The Missing Manatee

The Missing Manatee by Cynthia DeFelice (Grades 3-5)

While cruising in his small boat through the maze of Florida's coastal rivers, young Skeet Waters comes across a dead manatee. Close examination reveals that the manatee was shot through the head. However, when Skeet and a deputy sheriff return to the scene of the crime, they discover that the manatee has disappeared. Skeet is determined to solve the crime. Manatees are endangered. Manatees and other endangered and threatened animals often are threatened by man-made pollution, human intrusion into animal habitats and loss of natural resources in those habitats. If you were a scientist in charge of restoring a habitat, what actions would you take? Keep in mind that food, water, shelter and space are essential components of a habitat. What would you do to reduce pollution? What would you include in your special habitat? Look in the St. Petersburg Times for ideas on what to include and what to eliminate from the special habitat. Share your plan here.

Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Did you learn anything new? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.

Comments

[M,B 4th grade Mrs. Fithes class fairmount park]

The missing manatee is a fabulous book.By the cover of the book i could tell that it is going to be a good book.When i read the 1st chapter. I loved it very much.Then that day I read and read for the rest of the day.Now I am almost at the end of the book.I just need one more chapter until I'm done with the book.But before i started the book.I read everything before i started the 1st chapter.My favorate part of the story was when the boy found the dead manatee.

[Miss Willey]

I haven't read this book yet, but I was told that it is very good. I can't wait to read it.

[rebekah]

I love the missing manatee! It is a great book! When I first read it it was sooooo funny! The part I love the MOST was when he was like granma you look soooo good and when she
sung that song These Boots are made for Walking thank you for writing this book!:)

[J.K 5th grade Mr. Turners Class]

I really like the book but not when the missing manatee had a bullet in it's head it was sad.

[D.P. Mr. Turner's 5th Grade Class, Sanderlin Elementary]

I enjoyed this book a whole lot, it was probably my favorite so far~

I have read 10 of the sunshine state books and some have been good and others not so good.

One reason why I may love this book is because it was located so close!

I think the book had a good moral and I leanred a lot from it.

[JP, 5th grade, Mrs. Oldja, Lakewood El]

I think the book The Missing Manatee is an excellent book!I'm in to mysteries so this is my type of book. I especilly like the ending. I think it's nice of Skeet when he dosnt tell the police what Blink did. I know Skeet would make a good friend and has a big heart. My favorite part is when Skeet catches a tarpon on a fly. The Missing Manatee is one of the best books I've ever read!

[SF]

I DID NOT THINK THAT BLINK SHOT THE MANATE

[SF]

I DID NOT THINK THAT BLINK SHOT THE MANATE

[SF]

skeet was a nice kid

[jl]

this book is awesome. the main character is skeet. i was surprised that blink shot the manatee. skeet thought dirty dan shot the manatee. you would want to read this book.

[A.H.]

this book is so awsome.there was a kid named blink who shot the manatee.i can't believe he shot manatee.i feel so sad for manatee.i really thougt that dirty dan shot the manatee.but why would he have a shotgun in the boat,he killed a nice creature.it was a sad book.

[kb]

i couldn't beleive blink shot the manatee. that was my favorite part. not that blink shot the manatee but the part where the author told us that blink did it.i thought it was dirty dan. READ MISSING MANATEE!!! i just gave away a big part better read on to see if i am right.read more battle books.missing manatee rules!!

[OB]

The missing manatee is one of the best books I have ever read it should be on Opra.Oh,and Opra if u are reading sponser Estrogel.Read the missing manatee.

[GT]

it was agood book but it made me sick when it said the vulters split open the manatees stomach.

[kb]

i couldn't beleive blink shot the manatee. that was my favorite part. not that blink shot the manatee but the part where the author told us that blink did it.i thought it was dirty dan. READ MISSING MANATEE!!! i just gave away a big part better read on to see if i am right.read more battle books.missing manatee rules!!

[LV]

I coudn't believe that when Skitt found a handgun in the gun compartment and the same blue rope that was on the manattee in dirty dans boat!!! that was very SHOCKING!!!!!!!!!! but i'm not telling you who really shot the manattee.HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

[KC]

I could not emagen that Blink shot the manity.But i guess he did not do it on perpose though.And how could Dirty Dan have a shot gun in his comepartment and
that he would let Blink shot the gun!!!!How did you like the book?Read the mising manity.

[N.M.C]

This book is a great book. It is actually one of my favorite.Though I would had liked that the manatee was alive but still is a very interesting book.It had a good end and I really liked it. When I read it i coundn't put the book down.This book has alot of exiting parts.I really loved it.

[N.M.C]

The missing manetee is AWSOME MAN AAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWSOME.YOU GOTTA READ DIS BOOK.Really you should...

[Natalie]

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! i loved it when he saw the hurt mante

[Claudia]

This is the best book ever!My most favorite part is when Skeeter finds the dead, shot manatee in the bushes after it got dragged and he found a blue rope that Dirty Dan had!Skeeter suspected Dirty Dan the Tarpon Man. Is Dirty Dan the killer? Well, find out by reading "The Missing Manatee"! I thought that, that was a good, mysterious book ever!

[katia]

This book was a really good book!!It has so much imaganation. It was well discribed and we could know were they were at all time.

[ann charette]

the book is foolish it is awsome!!!

[polo]

worst book ever

[polo]

great