All About Rachel

Rachel Mason Hears the Sound
by Cindy Lovell Oliver

All About Rachel shares information from the book and beyond. Who is Rachel? What is she like? What does she look like? Did you ever "meet" a character in a book and then try to picture that character? And what if the book became a movie - did the actor portray the character the way you thought best? Your imagination is always the best judge of these things, so we leave it up to you and instead share insights about Rachel through her recipes, writings, and some background information.

Rachel's own writings can be found in the book. "Surviving on Salsa" and "Manatee Rock" may be used by classroom teachers in lessons about nutrition and manatees. Since manatees prefer warm water, they often seek warmer temperatures in the springs around Florida during the winter months. This means that during the Christmas holidays visitors often flock to springs to catch a glimpse of the gentle creatures. Rachel's original song is set to the tune of a popular Christmas song for this very reason. Tap your toe and sing along! (Print lyrics)

"Manatee Rock" (lyrics)
(sung to the tune of "Jingle Bell Rock")

First Verse:

Manatee, manatee, manatee rock,
Here's what we'd say if we could talk,
All of you boaters, we wish you'd slow down,
When you come through our river town,
Manatee, manatee, manatee rock,
That's where we hid or under a dock,
We hide from you boaters who drive much to fast,
And that's how we last!

Chorus:

There's a fast one, and that's no fun,
Because we swim so slow,
It's a tough dive, just to stay alive,
When we have to go below. (Hold nose and dip down!)
Come on, you manatees, pick up your speed,
Swim on around the dock,
Splashin' and swimmin' in the Florida heat,
That's the manatee rock!

Second Verse:
Manatee, manatee, manatee rock,
Your boat's on the run, but we wish it would walk,
Your spinning propellers cut us and scar,
Make us look like we've been to war,
Manatee, manatee, manatee rock,
Here's what we'd say if we could talk,
Your boats hurt and kill us and could make us extinct,
How we wish you'd just think!

(Copyright 2005 - Cindy Lovell Oliver)
Permission granted to use in educational performances.

Shhhhhhh...
"Uncle Erik's Salsa" Secret Recipe

Rachel's favorite food is her Uncle Erik's salsa, and she even wrote a poem in its honor.
Here it is... the TOP SECRET recipe for Rachel's favorite food...

2 cans of Ro*Tel Tomatoes (Original)
splash of lime juice
4 large, ripe tomatoes
2-3 spring onions
2-3 sections of fresh garlic

Drain the juice from the Ro*Tel tomatoes. Pour in plastic bowl (be sure to have a lid that seals). Mix in the lime juice. Dice the tomatoes and mix in. Finely chop the onions, including the stems and mix in. Use a garlic press and crush the garlic. Mix everything, cover tightly, and chill at least an hour before serving. WARNING: It will go fast, so you might want to double the recipe! (And don't forget to pick up some tortilla chips!)

What else do you want to know about Rachel? Send us an email and just ask!

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