School Library Journal (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 1-4 A whale of a tale, beautifully rendered in nothing but pencil. "Giant Whale or Giant Hoax?" asks the Cape Chronicle , a local newspaper that contextualizes this otherwise wordless story. Fifty years ago, two children claimed to have seen a Giant Spotted Whale, but many didn't believe them. So now, a challenge to prove or disprove its existence has been issued. What ensues is the story of a modern girl and boy who set out individually with tracking and recording equipment, collide at sea, and then team up to achieve their goal. Every illustration showcases the capabilities of pencil; the artist uses a variety of techniques to create different types of textures, shadows, highlights, and dramatic effects. All together, these elements form a series of stunning, photorealistic snapshots. Minute details, such as those found on the young man's tattered coat, make it worth our while to examine each illustration closely. For its finale, the book comes full circle. A new edition of the Cape Chronicle reveals the connection between the past and present and leaves us with a sense of vindication. VERDICT A lovely addition. Rachel Forbes, formerly of Oakville Public Library, Ontario, Canada

ALA Booklist (Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

In gray-toned pencil drawings, this wordless picture book follows two children who sail out, independent of each other, to find a legendary Great Spotted Whale last seen, allegedly, 50 years ago. Full-page illustrations with split images show the children individually preparing instruments for their current-day quests, while newspaper clippings provide backstory about the controversy of the previous sighting. Through the course of a few pages, the two children come together when their boats collide. They argue, see the whale, rebuild a boat, encounter the whale close up, return to the community as heroes, and discover that the original whale-spotters were their grandparents! While the story may require some suspension of disbelief, the handsome illustrations show a great range of tonal quality and detail, as well as diverse design and perspectives. Those looking for clear-cut pictures of whales might be disappointed, but the artistically inclined will appreciate the interestingly crafted images.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The Murrows, a husband-and-wife team, debut with a sumptuously illustrated, semi-wordless story of discovery and collaboration as two children attempt to prove the existence of a local "Great Spotted Whale." Bookended by images of the local newspaper, the Cape Chronicle, which provide necessary context and detail, the story follows the separate efforts of a boy and girl as they build and outfit boats with cameras, audio equipment, and recording devices, then head out into the surf. Dramatic b&w pencil illustrations readily conjure the power of the sea: a violent crash brings the two children together, and their initial anger turns to a spirit of cooperation as they pool their efforts. In a scene that's more romantic than feasible, they push the broken halves of their respective boats together to create a new vessel. It's all worth it, though, as their hard work, determination, and scientific pay off in a big way. Dynamically varied perspectives, the inky mysteries of the water's depths, and attention to realistic detail give the artwork a strong, visceral impact. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)