Yolen, Jane The Stranded Whale. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick
Press, 2015. Language: G (no swears, no “F’s”); Mature content: G; Violence: G.
The Stranded Whale is a story set in the seaside town of
Portland, Maine that is impossible not to dive right into. I was completely
immersed from the first page in the intriguing story and hauntingly beautiful
illustrations. A little girl and her two brothers come across a large beached
whale on the way home from school. They call for help and soon the whole town
has gathered to try to save the majestic creature. Everyone does their best to
keep the whale wet with salty sea water. All of the men in town push on one
side, then the other, trying to roll the whale back out to sea. No one has what
is needed to get the animal back to its underwater world. People bring
sandwiches and soda pop and take shifts trying to save the whale late into the
night. Eventually, it is apparent the whale isn’t going to get back into the water
in time. The children head home heartbroken and exhausted. Their mom is
disappointed because the dinner she made for them has gone cold.
Even though
this story has a sad ending, the words and images in this book will leave the
reader with a better understanding of life by the sea and reverence for the
inhabitants that reside within its salty depths.
EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: JL
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