The Boy And The Whale

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

On a little island in the middle of the big ocean, there lives a little boy who is lonely. He dreams of adventure on the high seas and loves to go out on his boat every day to fish. He is about to meet a very big friend that will change his life forever.

Reviews

This IS Literacy - There is a pleasing fluidity and rhythm in the text. Visually, the sentences also roll like waves across the page. This eloquent, fable-like tale of friendship also lends itself very well to being shared aloud. CM Magazine Review

The beautiful watercolour illustrations are the highlight of The Boy and the Whale. Moniz exploits the gorgeous colours of the seaside to create soft, inviting images that dominate each page. The light blues of the water and gentle oranges of the sun-filled sky are very appealing. Young readers will not be frightened by the arrival of a massive whale in any of the images as the subdued colours make all of the illustrations delightful.

Well-used double-page spreads help to convey the size of the whale and the ocean. Moniz wisely uses these large images to communicate the difference in size between the whale and the boy, and the ocean and the boy. Most of the illustrations are framed, with individual sea creatures decorating the white border on each page. There is the occasional full-bleed image which helps to immerse the reader in the scene. It is hard to find any fault with these perfect illustrations.

The text is curled on the page, almost mimicking the curve of a wave. While this is a nice touch, it competes with the illustrations for attention, particularly during the first reading. It is much less distracting during subsequent readings.

The Boy and the Whale is a picture book best shared with preschool and early primary students. It will particularly appeal to children who love stories about humans bonding with wild animals or children who love the ocean.

Review for Wazzyjump, also by Michael Moniz:
""The visual transformation of both the lion and the fox from predator to playmate borders on...the magical. Sublime."" - Starred Kirkus Review
""This is a gentle and appealing book, one with a clear message about the power of having fun."" - Quill and Quire
""It's pleasing to see how Wazzyjump uses his ""magic"" to win over each new friend."" - Calgary Herald

Author Bio

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Michael Moniz spent his childhood living between the big city and the tranquil Azores islands of Portugal. It is this unique upbringing and an early appreciation for culture and the arts that inspired Michael at young age. His skill in watercolors, oils and sketches garnered accolades from the local Portuguese community, leading him from small-scale works to commissioned wall-sized murals. Michael's eclectic background, combined with a love of ancient culture, prompted him to explore a new creative outlet in storytelling. His children's tales are full of wonder and whimsy, as well as deep meaning and morals. This is his second book with SImply Read Books, following Wazzyjump, which garnered a starred review from Kirkus.