Young Ida, who lives in a treehouse, often wonders what's "beyond the sun, the moon, and the stars." She can stop wondering after a flying whale arrives and invites her "on a journey beyond the stars." So begins an eye-pleasing tour of visual marvels--an upside-down land, a flying boat, etc. Alas, the tour doesn't include a story line.

A young girl journeys on the back of a flying whale in this picture book, first published in Switzerland and translated from German into English.Ida, a redheaded white girl who lives in a treehouse in a peaceful birch forest, often wonders "what lay beyond." One night, woken by the shaking of her treehouse, she peers out to see a flying whale. Gugger and Röthlisberger's sumptuous illustrations, evocative of the work of Lisbeth Zwerger, are infused with the sort of whimsical detail that makes for the best fantasy ambiance. When the whale invites Ida to go on a journey with him "beyond the stars," Ida accepts eagerly. They talk about "all kinds of things. BIG and little" and eventually come to a place where everything is upside down. Here, the whale nudges the puzzled Ida to think beyond what she thinks is "normal"; and later, Ida's question about why a flower is sending its seeds to the sky prompts the whale to explain, "So it can grow again…all of us grow." Themes of curious exploration, growth, and friendship are all introduced in this whimsical, delicate way, accompanied by evocative illustrations. The only off-note is an inconsistency in the illustrative depictions of the size relationship between Ida and the whale, and while it could possibly be excused by the fantasy nature of the story, it's noticeable. The endpaper illustrations deftly underscore the enrichment that results from journeys.Enchanting and intriguing. (Picture book. 3-7)

PreS-Gr 2 Ida lives a quiet life of solitude high up in a tree house surrounded by a peaceful forest of birch trees and animals. She spends her days gazing out from her little porch, dreaming of what lies beyond her tiny corner of the world. Her dreams come to life when, after a thunderous shake of her tiny tree house in the middle of the night, she discovers a gigantic flying whale at her doorstep. With Ida on his back, the whale embarks on a journey through the clouds to magical and mysterious places: through thick clouds, past the moon and the stars, and to strange upside-down and unfamiliar worlds. Ida is swept away by all the new things she sees, and when she feels uncertain about her new surroundings, the whale is there to protect and reassure her. When a storm comes, Ida is especially happy she has a companion for the journey, but when the storm dies down, she is overwhelmed by homesickness. "I'm right here," the whale reminds her, and Ida remembers that even though she's lonely sometimes, friends are "close togetheralways." A lesson in empathy and a tribute to friendship, this gentle book provides comfort to readers who might be experiencing unfamiliar change. Whimsical, colorful, and detailed illustrations will captivate young readers with wonder and curiosity. Words and pictures work perfectly in tandem to produce a calming effect. VERDICT An excellent choice for read-alouds or one-on-one sharing, this picture book will inspire compassion and warmth in readers of all ages. Natalie Romano, Denver Public Library