Daniel Kim

The tale of this baby whale touches the heart in the cutest, sweetest ways, while teaching readers a bit about whales and their environment.

Baby whale needs to poo, and that is always an issue. It's so embarrassing to go to the bathroom right in front of the other fish...and they're always following him around. There's only one place he can do his business in peace: the dark shadows of the deeper, ocean floor. As time goes on, the fish are leaving and Baby whale isn't sure what's going on.

The first illustration, even before the title page, put an instant smile on my face. Such a cute, smiling face! This sweetness carries on through the entire read—after all, this is a baby whale to adore. It's no problem to sympathize with the whale's predicament as readers/listeners identify with similar situations of smaller embarrassments. Add the slight humor woven in, and it is an entertaining read.

Although sweet and cute, this whale also opens up the doors to some whale facts. Details sprinkle in during the story, which subtly offer information about whales' habitats, food sources, and more. Of course, the entire poo situation forms the center of the tale as its purpose in the balance of ocean life is brought to light. There's also a brief mention of the problems fishers and whalers pose. All of this flows seamlessly into the story, and still is brought over clearly and understandably.

The illustrations draw in and also help make the facts clear. It is enjoyable to gaze through them, and young listeners will probably enjoy visiting these on their own. The larger font on the text makes it easier to read this one aloud to groups and opens up the door for a little reading fun. It makes it a good edition to classrooms and homeschool settings as well as being simply an entertaining read.
I received a DRC, am giving this one 4.5 stars, and rounding up because it is a cute whale.… (més)