Little Whale

by Jo Weaver

Overview

Voyage through the warm, southern seas with a new whale calf and its mother.
Together, Little Whale and Gray Whale swim under midnight skies and through coral reefs teeming with life as they migrate to the cool, rich waters of the north to feed. Gray Whale gently guides her baby along the way, keeping Little Whale safe from passing ships and dangerous predators. At long last, the echo of a whale song calls to them through icy water and they know . . . they are home.
With gentle text and stunning monochromatic illustrations, Jo Weaver reveals the wonder of nature, the excitement of discovery, and the strength of parental love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682630495
Publisher:	Peachtree Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/01/2018
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	689,351
Product dimensions:	10.80(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jo Weaver worked in international development and as a support worker at a center for the homeless before turning to illustration. She has an MA in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Little One is her first picture book. She lives in England.

Jo Weaver worked in international development and as a support worker at a center for the homeless before turning to illustration. She has an MA in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Little One is her first picture book. She lives in England.

Editorial Reviews

09/01/2018
PreS-Gr 3—Soft whale-gray/blue charcoal drawings render a realistic picture of a gray whale and her calf making their epic journey from warm southern birth waters to the cold waters of their northern "home." Little Whale is puzzled by the long swim, not knowing what "home" means, and keeps asking "Are we nearly there?" like any impatient youngster. They pass kelp forests and coral reefs, evade shipping vessels, and elude orcas on their long migration to join "family" in the north. The simple, comforting text and the graceful illustrations keep perfect time, lending a quiet satisfaction to a story perfect for bed/laptime. Inviting to the eye and gently informative, this is a soft introduction to gray whales and animal migrations. VERDICT Pair this great read-aloud with Sharon Kate Cooper's informative When Whales Cross the Sea: The Gray Whale Migration for a second look at these majestic creatures.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2018-08-14

A gray whale and her calf migrate from south to north in this British import.

As in Weaver's debut, Little One (2016), luminous charcoal illustrations reveal and enhance a loving relationship between an animal mother and (non-gender-specific) child. Double-page spreads in varying shades of blue show the mother and calf swimming past coral reefs, over waving fronds of seaweed, through schools of fish, under a starry sky, and on and on through the vast sea on their journey home. The monochromatic pages sparkle with sunlight, evoke the watery sway of plant life, and capture the vastness of the open ocean as appropriate. A pod of orcas provides a frisson of danger, the calf's exhaustion a modicum of suspense, but overall the mood is serene. Imagined exchanges between Gray Whale and Little Whale will sound comfortingly familiar to both young listeners and adult readers. When the child/calf asks, "Are we nearly there?" the mother responds, "Not yet," and offers encouragement to continue swimming. While the dialogue obviously anthropomorphizes the characters somewhat, the pictures provide a generally realistic view of the animals and their habitat. The straightforward text, which tracks their progress and describes the natural world through which they travel, likewise emphasizes the fact-based nature of the tale.

A soothing and appealing read-aloud, this lovely look under the sea may spark scientific curiosity in listeners. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

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