Shira Evans - National Geographic Readers: Dive, Dolphin

Children are naturally curious about the world around them, and curiosity
is a powerful motivation for readingand for success in school. Studies
show that by understanding relationships among words, children quickly
acquire new and interesting vocabulary. And the more they are able to
talk about the world around them, the more they want to learn!

As you read with your child, be sure to point out the vocabulary tree.
Discuss the categories of words and how they relate to one another.
Then, explore the text together. Encourage your child to point out each
of the vocabulary words as they appear in the text. Youll be surprised
how fast your early reader identifies content-rich vocabulary.

To sustain childrens excitement about reading, we have created a special
program called NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS SUPER READERS. As kids
read each National Geographic Kids Reader, they cross off its picture on
a free National Geographic Kids Super Readers poster that parents can
download from kids.nationalgeographic.com/superreaders. Throughout
the process, kids and parents go to the website and download specially
designated prizes that reward their effort. Kids can have even more read
ing fun online, with lively book-related activities, quizzes and games,
fascinating excerpts, and sneak previews of upcoming books.

The National Geographic Kids Super Readers program appeals to kids
love of accomplishment while providing them with incentives to keep
reading. When the reading experience is fun, children learn more and
achieve more. What could be better than that?

Sincerely,

Susan B. Neuman
Professor of Language and Literacy
New York University

Vocabulary Tree

DOLPHINS

WHERE THEY LIVE

ocean
river

WHAT THEY DO

dive
swim
hunt
play
leap
jump
breathe

WHAT THEY HAVE

flipper
fin
tail

Dive, dolphin!

There are many kinds of dolphins.
Some have long beaks.

Some have short beaks.

These dolphins have stripes.

This dolphin has spots.

Some dolphins live in oceans.

Others live in rivers.

tail

fin

flipper

All dolphins have
flippers, a fin, and a tail.

Dolphins swim together.

They work as a
team to hunt fish.

Dolphins like to play with
things they find in the water.

This dolphin plays
with seaweed.

They also like to
leap and jump.

A dolphin gets air
through its blowhole.
Then it dives back
down into the water.

Dolphins need to breathe.

They come to the top of
the water to get air.

Dive, dolphin!

Dolphin Habitat Map

Dolphins live in oceans and rivers around the world. Heres where these dolphins live.

ATLANTIC
BOTTLENOSE
DOLPHIN
Atlantic,
Pacific, and
Indian Oceans

CHINESE
WHITE
DOLPHIN
along the
coasts of
Africa and Asia

HECTORS
DOLPHIN
along the
coast of
New Zealand

IRRAWADDY
DOLPHIN
waters in
Southeast
Asia

SPINNER
DOLPHINS
Atlantic,
Pacific, and
Indian Oceans

YANGTZE
RIVER
DOLPHIN
Yangtze
River, China

YOUR TURN!