Dear Professor Whale

by Megumi Iwasa, Jun Takabatake (Illustrator)

Overview

Now that Professor Whale has retired, he writes many letters to "You, Whoever You Are, Who Lives on the Other Side of the Horizon". Seal and Pelican are busy delivering the letters and Penguin is now teaching. Although he is happy his friends are doing so well, Whale wants a special friend;, who might call him by a friendly sort of name. Like Whaley, maybe, instead of "Professor."



In this charming follow-up to the international bestseller Yours Sincerely, Giraffe, another correspondence flourishes across the horizons. The letters bring penguins, whales, and seals together in the famous Whale Point Olympics, where the winners are friendship and humor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781776572069
Publisher:	Gecko Press
Publication date:	10/01/2018
Pages:	104
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Megumi Iwasa studied graphic design at Tama Art University in Tokyo, where she also worked. She is the author of a number of popular children's books, and she lives in Tokyo, Japan.

Jun Takabatake is one of Japan's best-loved children's book illustrators. His illustrations have been exhibited throughout the world, and he has won many major international awards.

Editorial Reviews

"Building upon Yours Sincerely, Giraffe (2017), Professor Whale organizes an Olympics. Author Iwasa sets her story at Whale Point, with Professor Whale as the protagonist (although now he is retired, he would really like to be called the more casual 'Whaley' or 'Big Blue'). When Professor Whale sends out many letters via Seal in his attempt to follow Giraffe's lead from the first book and discover new animals in the world, his only answer is from Wally, a young whale who lives at Otto Island—a disappointment, as Professor Whale was expecting a letter from an animal he wouldn't normally meet. Turns out, though, Wally is the grandson of an old friend of Professor Whale's who moved away in the big migration. Wally mentions an Olympics held long ago at Whale Point, at which his grandfather won a silver medal, and Professor Whale is inspired to organize another one. This part is delightfully silly, since the events are: a seal swimming race, a penguin walking race, and a whale spouting contest. Overall, though, the story labors to sparkle, mostly because it's so predictable—even many of Takabatake's black-and-white spot illustrations lack pizzazz. The story's theme of friendship plays out in regular helpings of goodness on the parts of the characters, and while kindness and friendship are wonderful things, a bit spice is nice too. Not nearly as fresh as Yours Sincerely, Giraffe but not a total bust, either."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

09/01/2018
Gr 1–3—Professor Whale has retired from teaching and lives alone in the north. The color blue makes him happy, as does imagining himself with wings. But he's lonely, so he sends letters around the world through the "delivery seal," hoping for a fun pen pal. To his delight, he receives a letter from the grandson of an old friend. Soon after, the arrival of some visitors inspires him to revive the Whale Olympics. Together, he and his friends convince whales, seals, and penguins to compete in good fun. This delightful early chapter book makes for some smile-inducing reading. The black-and-white line drawings add a pleasant touch. VERDICT An ode to the joys of friendship and letter-writing, this is a great choice for early chapter book readers.—Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

School Library Journal

2018-07-24

Building upon Yours Sincerely, Giraffe (2017), Professor Whale organizes an Olympics.

Author Iwasa sets her story at Whale Point, with Professor Whale as the protagonist (although now he is retired, he would really like to be called the more casual "Whaley" or "Big Blue"). When Professor Whale sends out many letters via Seal in his attempt to follow Giraffe's lead from the first book and discover new animals in the world, his only answer is from Wally, a young whale who lives at Otto Island—a disappointment, as Professor Whale was expecting a letter from an animal he wouldn't normally meet. Turns out, though, Wally is the grandson of an old friend of Professor Whale's who moved away in the big migration. Wally mentions an Olympics held long ago at Whale Point, at which his grandfather won a silver medal, and Professor Whale is inspired to organize another one. This part is delightfully silly, since the events are: a seal swimming race, a penguin walking race, and a whale spouting contest. Overall, though, the story labors to sparkle, mostly because it's so predictable—even many of Takabatake's black-and-white spot illustrations lack pizzazz. The story's theme of friendship plays out in regular helpings of goodness on the parts of the characters, and while kindness and friendship are wonderful things, a bit of spice is nice too.

Not nearly as fresh as Yours Sincerely, Giraffe but not a total bust, either. (Fantasy. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews

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