Lloyd Finds His Whalesong

by Skylaar Amann

Overview

Lloyd can’t sing. The rhythm of the whalesong guides the whales through danger and connects them to each other. But Lloyd is too quiet to join in. If he can’t sing, how can he be a part of the pod?

Then one day he finds a magical, mysterious object with supersonic seaweed strings! This could be his chance to be part of the song. He practices and practices, nervously preparing to show the other whales. But before he can perform for them, a disruptive, noisy boat approaches and scatters the pod. Lloyd’s powerful new instrument may be the only thing that can reunite them—if he can find the courage to share his unique song.

This inspiring and whimsical tale about celebrating your differences and finding your voice is complemented by bright and endearing illustrations that sparkle with quiet magic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781624149436
Publisher:	Page Street Publishing
Publication date:	06/30/2020
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.75(w) x 10.92(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Skylaar Amann grew up on the Oregon Coast with the incredible biodiversity of the Pacific Ocean in her backyard and spent lots of time watching whales. She is a member of SCBWI and Women Who Draw, as well as an affiliated artist with Climate Science Alliance and a picture book mentor for WriteMentor.Skylaar works as an editor and illustrator, and is learning to play her own ukulele as well as Lloyd.

Editorial Reviews

2020-02-09
A quiet young whale finds his own way to contribute to his pod’s song.

Grampa Whale sings to find food, and Mama Whale sings to keep the pod safe, but young humpback whale Lloyd’s song is just too quiet. While enjoying the peace of a kelp forest, Lloyd finds an unusual thing: a ukulele covered in “ancient, sea-tumbled glass,” with “storm-strong seaweed strings.” Amann’s debut picture book contains a sprinkling of these descriptive turns of phrase, but her illustrations are what really shine. Each page conveys the mood with a different kind of ocean light, such as dappled kelp forest, deep, dark blue depths, and filtered sunbeams. The sounds at the center of the narrative are also depicted visually: The whale song is rendered as floaty pink lines nostalgically reminiscent of a stereo equalizer, the noise of a ship is unpleasant yellow-green zigzags, and Lloyd’s ukulele produces sparkling gold confetti. Lloyd learns to play his whale song on the ukulele just in time to save his pod from noise pollution caused by the ship. Along with an introduction to the science of whale song and how noise pollution affects it, readers will learn that everyone can contribute in their own way. Though this lesson is familiar, it is notable and refreshing in that Lloyd does not uncover an innate special power but rather employs a tool to support him.

A sweet story buoyed by beautiful illustrations. (further information, whale song musical notation, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews