Copyright Date:
2023
Edition Date:
2023
Release Date:
08/01/23
Illustrator:
Smith, Crystal
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
1-7730-6664-1
ISBN 13:
978-1-7730-6664-6
Dewey:
E
LCCN:
2024443636
Dimensions:
30 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
Maybe a search for a whale might uncover a way to heal and remember.A mother and child-both beige-skinned, dark-haired, and presenting as Asian-look through items left by Grandpa, presumably after his death, that provide a route to follow to search for whales. The child is skeptical at Mom's assurance that "the trip will do us good," but the two of them set out in a bright yellow kayak on emerald water, where a giant unseen whale glides silently beneath them. They see moon jellies, seals, and bioluminescence-but no whales. At night, mother and child look up into a star-filled sky, and the little one wonders if whales can see stars. Mom tells the child that Grandpa loved whales, too, and that he will be in their hearts forever, and together, they work through their grief, finding companionship in nature. An offshore sound announces that whales are in fact nearby, blowing spray into the air. Pendreigh's evocative text alternates between narration and the protagonist's inner thoughts, offering excellent conversation starters for helping children deal with loss. Smith's immersive illustrations, which at times have heavy lines, nevertheless make use of dramatic perspectives, imaginative compositions, and a luminous palette of deep blues, greens, purples, and yellows to lend emotional depth to the tale. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A gentle yet profound story about a shared journey to peace. (Picture book. 3-7)
After Grandpa dies, a girl and her mother take the trip he had planned for her, kayaking along the Pacific west coast to look for the whales that he loved. The trip will do them good, Mom says, but the girl isn't sure. How can that be true when Grandpa isn't there? And how will they find a whale in all that water, anyway? There is so much to see as they paddle through white-tipped waves and calm coves: glowing moon jellies, fluttering anemones and slippery seals. All the while, the girl watches for whales. Could one be swimming beneath their kayak or along the shore of their camp? Are the whales even there? Finally, in the dark of night, they hear them -- pushhhhhhhh, pushhhhhhh -- humpbacks breathing in the bay. In this lyrical story, luminously illustrated by Crystal Smith, mom and daughter find the space to grieve Grandpa and reconnect with each other in the wild beauty of nature. And they come to realize that -- perhaps like whales -- those we've loved are always with us, even if we don't see them anymore. Key Text Features illustrations Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
Common Core
STEAM
Graphic
Novel
High/Low
Chapter
Book
Large
Print
Series Tracker
Manga
Big
Book
Board
Book
Hot
Title
Adult
Language
Mature
Content
Ebook
Ebook
MUA (Multi User Access)
Light Novel
