Maybe a Whale

by Kirsten Pendreigh, Crystal Smith (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781773066646
Publisher:	Groundwood Books
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

KIRSTEN PENDREIGH is a children’s author and poet from Vancouver, BC. Her books celebrate our early instincts to care for the plants and creatures that share our planet. She is the author of Luna’s Green Pet, illustrated by Carmen Mok. Kirsten’s poems can be found in Canadian literary magazines and in Best Canadian Poetry 2021. Formerly a CBC and NPR journalist, Kirsten also writes non-fiction for children.

CRYSTAL SMITH is the daughter of a lighthouse keeper who discovered her passion for wildlife when she was small. She illustrates the natural world to spark curiosity and wonder, kindle concern and illuminate issues. She has also illustrated Mother Aspen, written by Annette LeBox. Crystal currently lives in Victoria, BC.

Editorial Reviews

A quiet, comforting story.

Wall Street Journal

This story [will] remind readers of the unpredictability of life.

New York Times

Told with an understated sensitivity, Maybe a Whale offers readers a lesson on grieving and the value of fulfilling promises even to the dead. Told with great care and supported by lovely illustrations that take the reader into the world of northern waters and whales, this is a life lesson to readers.

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

Illustrations with watery backgrounds blur the line between sea and sky, showing mother and daughter in fog and rain, at twilight and dawn—in liminal moments that echo their grief … A tender testament to love and loss. STARRED REVIEW

Horn Book

Reminds us that memories can keep loved ones close, even when they're gone.

Hakai Magazine

Kirsten Pendreigh takes a less boisterous, more poetic approach [and] illustrator Crystal Smith ... does a masterful job.

Montreal Gazette

A poignant story of a grieving mother and daughter who find solace in nature and in each other's company. A range of emotions — sorrow, wonder, peace — are lyrically intertwined and expressed.

Canadian Children's Book News

Smith's impressionistic art style breathes life into Pendreigh's lyrical text in this moving picture book about the strong connection between grandfather and granddaughter.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A beautiful story about a mother and daughter's journey to heal from their grief and to reconnect with each other and the ocean.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

A poignant story of a grieving mother and daughter who find solace in nature and in each other’s company. A range of emotions — sorrow, wonder, peace — are lyrically intertwined and expressed.

Canadian Children’s Book News

A touching exploration of love, grief and remembrance ... An excellent age-appropriate resource for young children experiencing loss.

Quebec Library Association

12/02/2023

Gr 2–5—Experience the glory of the Pacific Northwest and the beautiful illustrations of debut illustrator Smith as a young girl and her mother go whale watching for the first time after the death of her grandfather. As they kayak, camp, roast marshmallows, and watch for whales, the girl feels more and more connected to her grandfather, and while she may not "see" the whales, she can feel them like she feels her grandfather's love. The prose is quiet and sturdy and moving, but the illustrations in this picture book steal the show. Smith's depictions of water, of the great outdoors, and of the whales as a sort of constellation of light and emotion are jaw-dropping. VERDICT This moving meditation on grief is perfect for fans of Carole Lindstrom, Drew Breckmeyer, Michaela Goade, and Grace Lin.—Aryssa Damron

School Library Journal

2023-06-08
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)

Kirkus Reviews