The following sites can be used to
support and enrich
the Book Club unit for Island of the Blue
Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell.
Learn about the Physical Location of
the Novel
- San
Nicolas Island – This page features several aerial photographs of San Nicolas Island plus links to more photos of the island and its wildlife.
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History – This web site features exhibits on the region surrounding San Nicolas Island, including marine life, mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, invertebrates, astronomy, geology and paleontology, and the Chumash Indians.
- Channel Islands National Park – The park encompasses the islands of San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. The site offers information about the ecology and wildlife of this region, which lies just north of San Nicolas Island.
Investigate the Marine Life and
Wildlife of the
Setting
- Abalone
– This site offers a factual and formal explanation of the
abalone, its
production, and its natural history.
- Red
Abalone – A photograph of the red abalone and the
facts specific
to it are given with similar treatment of other species of abalone readily
accessed.
- Bottlenose
Dolphins – The dolphins found off the California
coast are fully
examined, from their diet and behavior to their physical characteristics.
Diagrams are included.
- Cormorants
– A quick description of the cormorant species most commonly found in
North America is presented on this site.
- Giant
Squid – The description of the giant squid at this site bears
a strong resemblance to the devilfish of the novel. Scientists' continued
speculations about the giant squid are also explored in this
article.
- Sea
Elephants – Although not located on San Nicolas, the
sea elephants
pictured here create a vivid impression of the animals' strength, size, and
physical features.
- Sea
Otters – This section of the Monterey Bay Aquarium web site provides a wealth of information about sea otters' behavior, habitat, and history as a hunted and then protected marine mammal.
Find Out about the Characters of the Novel
- The
Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island – The true story of the
woman who lived
on the island for eighteen years is told by a senior curator of the Santa
Barbara Museum of Natural History.
- Aleut Woman – Illustrations support this brief article on Aleut culture and history, which focuses on the role of women in the society.
- Aleut – This short article features a map of the Aleutian archipelago and a photograph of an elaborate hunting costume worn by an Aleut man.
Meet the Author