When I read that scientists were tracking narwhals, I immediately asked my mom for my 3rd grade report on narwhals to give to the scientists. They might have learned some new information from my sole source of National Geographic extensive research.
I thought, My narwhal report get my foot in the marine biology world!
Turns out that my mom trashed the report and only kept the illustrations.
S+? This is O+ work.
Moooooooooooooooom…what the heck? You’re ruining my life.
But the illustrations might still do the trick. What do you think? Do they look professional?
Here’s a real narwhal pic for your comparison:
Pretty close, huh? My childhood dreams may finally come true.
When I was younger, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then I realized vets only got to see sick animals. And that’s sad.
So I decided to be a marine biologist…to play with dolphins. Except you need to be good at science to be a marine biologist. And I suck at science (except for physics).
With my dolphin dreams dashed, I began my degree in English and became the editor/writer/blogger that you know (and love) today. Don’t worry. I promise to still blog even if I go to play with study narwhals.
Do you know where narwhals are? In Nunavut, Canada. Do you know who else is in Nunavut? She Is Just a Rat and the Zen Assassin.
Let me know when I can come visit ok? I have research to conduct.
November 8th, 2011 at 8:49 am
I think those drawings are spot on. I also wanted to be a vet when I was a kid (who didn’t, right?) and then I saw a 2 headed cat at a career day, and was like “ew.” So that ended it for me. Plus, the math and science is not strong in this one, so better that I went the English route as well.
Will you still remember all us little people when you become and famous marine biologist?
November 8th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
A two-headed cat would have turned me off, too. Animals are supposed to be cute and cuddly.
November 8th, 2011 at 8:51 am
I can see why she kept the illustrations. That is a great depiction! 3rd grade? My stuff was still stick figures. I think I’m in love with narwhals now.
November 8th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
They are very lovable creatures. Just watch the spear.
November 8th, 2011 at 9:03 am
That goodness your mother at least kept the illustrations – they are clearly significant naturalist renditions.
PS I think I found your holiday gift (I’ve seen this in real life, and it’s as amazing as it sounds…): http://www.shakespearesden.com/avenging-narwhal-play-set.html
November 8th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Oh my god, that penguin looks like Pete! I hope he didn’t get into a scuffle with a narwhal.
November 8th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Your dolphin dreams aren’t dashed! You could still be a Seaworld dolphin trainer! You don’t need a college degree, but you would have to pass the swim test, which includes a 220-foot freestyle swim, a 110-foot underwater swim, and a 24-foot free dive to retrieve a small weight. You’d also need to tread water for 5 minutes (without using your hands) and hoist yourself out of the water and onto the deck, using only your arms to pull yourself up and landing on your feet. So, you know, piece of cake!
November 8th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
You lost me at being able to swim…. J/k.
November 8th, 2011 at 9:15 am
I want a narwahl. What with unicorns being so scarce and everything. Have you got website I could browse?
November 8th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Apparently, they’re a rarity. So if you find one, keep it to yourself.
November 8th, 2011 at 9:26 am
Whoa. How did I miss the memo on the narwhal?
November 8th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Yeah, I didn’t even realize they were real when I first heard about them.
November 8th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Once again you taught me something! Loved the illustration, were you ever into art?
November 8th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I always get distracted by the colors. I end up with a piece of paper with a million different colors on it.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:38 am
How many narwhal vs narwhal fights/deaths/accidental impaling’s are there yearly?
I want that study done!
Ya’ll know if I had a sword coming out of my head every time I turned round I’d decapitate a loved one, I bet narwhal’s are the same,only they look cooler than me with a sword growing out of my head.
Mermaid assassins. That’s their new name since nar-whatsists are too hard to spell.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
That would be an awesome study. Will you be my coresearcher?
Mermaid assassins…I love it!
November 8th, 2011 at 10:40 am
No, seriously. What’s up with that MOM? Your life’s narwhal work, down the drain. You were way before your time.
Lor
November 8th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
I know…I could have really gone places. Ruined! Ruined, I tell you!
November 8th, 2011 at 10:45 am
I prefer vets to medical doctors for humans. I’ve never heard of a narwal so now I need to go look it up. You could go get some cats and do experiments on them. Or a couple of goldfish for that matter. You can then write up your observations and get them published in scientific journals. Easy Peasy.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Maybe if I tied a lollipop to Esme’s head to look like a horn….
November 8th, 2011 at 10:49 am
I love narwhals and yours are wonderful! Nunavut is pretty darn cold, but I’d seeing the narwhals would make it worth the trip!
November 8th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Thank you! I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to the cold, so I’ll need about 10 layers.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
11 layers, just to be safe.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:22 am
I wanted to be a doctor or vet when I grew up, until I actually got to college and burned myself repeatedly trying to pass basic chem lab. I gave up quickly and came over to the dark side, er, English.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
English majors band togther!
November 8th, 2011 at 11:26 am
My friend is a marine biologist. She counts fish. So count yourself lucky that you are an editor/writer/blogger because you get to be loved by all of us. The only people that love my fish counting friend are her friends – and the fish she says have to be set free.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Does your friend think all drains lead to the ocean, too?
November 8th, 2011 at 11:59 am
I’m going to say your drawings are pretty accurate. I’d reference it. I wanted to be a marine biologist too. Salt water, animals, beaches, sun… sadly, you also need to be good with math. Which I am not. It’s tragic.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
I think the citation should read: Appear, Thoughtsy. (1990). Narwhal 3rd Grade Report. Baltimore, Maryland: Elementary School.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
I think Narwals are also distant relatives to Rock Lobsters.
You can tell in this magnificent piece of art that the artist started to maybe fill in all the blue for the water and then decided against it. Smart artist.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Is that a B52 reference? I think it is, but I also don’t really know anything about lobsters, so….
See? You totally get the artisticness of the water shading thing. The teacher didn’t get it and that’s why I only got an S+.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I think your illustrations are perfect for their research! They need to get in touch with you ASAP for more wonderful pieces of art!
November 8th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
At least if the marine biologist thing doesn’t work out, I can fall back on a career as an artist.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
I like how your drawing depicts the narwhals peacefully swimming and the photo is of them in a violent sword fight. I think you are more accurate.
My mom kept my school work until the parchment started degrading.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Totally more accurate. And I have a baby narwhal. Everybody loves babies…even babies with a horn.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
I think that your illustrations are so good that the actual picture looks fake.
I know (and love) you and you’re on your way to becoming a famous scientist. Take me with you …….. (I can be useful, I swear!)
November 8th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Whoa…that is quite the compliment!
You’ve probably been a scientist already. You’ve done everything there is to do in life, I’m sure of it. Ambulance driver, mom, 3 degrees…. There’s nothing left for you!
November 8th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
You have enlightened me today. I did not know what a narwhal was…am I living in a cave or what?!
November 8th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Just remember to take your parka and warm boots! It’s really cold up there!
November 8th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Narwhals? Never heard of them. And they really have spiky things on their heads? And live in the water in Canada? Relative of Lock Ness?
November 9th, 2011 at 9:04 am
Like Marshall from HIMYM says, “Nessie is real!”
November 8th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Genius starts early, eh? I’m not a fan of the narwhal, but should a research project involving unicorns come up you keep me posted. I’m all over it
November 9th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Will do!
November 8th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
I feel totally one with the narwhal now. They look so frolicsome. Move over sea cows- there is more coolness in the big blue than previosuly known. My mother would have used my report as a coaster for a while then written some grocery thoughts on it. Your mom saved the drawings- she’s still good.
November 8th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Excellent artwork – in grade 3? My gosh! I’d never have believed that these creatures existed had you not shared your research with us. You could be the James Audubon of the sea – go for it!
November 8th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Canada–my home and native land of fearsome sea creatures and absurdly cold temps.
November 8th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
I… thought that narwhals were imaginary. Wow. I feel like a moron.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:07 am
No worries. I thought they were, too. When I saw the article, I was like, “Oooo…3rd grade me is smarter than present day me.”
November 8th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
I had never heard of narwhals until seeing the movie, Elf. I thought they were made up! It was pretty much like finding out dragons are real animals when I learned of the narwhal existence. My life became complete.
Your crayon rendition is UNCANNY!
November 9th, 2011 at 9:07 am
More artists should use crayon as a medium.
November 9th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Narwhals ARE unicorns, just with invisible scuba gear. I can’t believe that is the work of a 3rd grader. Brilliant how you allude to the wateriness of water, without having to resort to trite representationalism. Brilliant.
November 10th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Who would’ve ever thunk that a whale with a bone protruding from its head would look so sweet? Your illustrations totally did them justice. Color me impressed!
November 12th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Narwhals are neat, but they also scare me. The ones in the photo look like they’re sword fighting.