The Boy and the Whale by Modicai Gerstein - ADVISABLE

Gerstein, Mordicai  The Boy and the Whale PICTURE BOOK Roaring Book Press, 2017.  $17.99  Content: G.  

A boy and his father find a whale trapped in their fishing net.  The father tells the boy it’s not worth trying to save the whale because it’s too dangerous and the whale looks near death.  When the father goes to find a different fishing net, the boy takes the boat out and spends a long time freeing the whale.  The whale is able to escape and jumps and flaps his tale in celebration of his freedom.  

My son and I enjoyed this book.  The illustrations were great-especially the sun’s reflection.  The boy’s love for the whale and determination to try and help the trapped animal were heart-warming and reading the book lends to a discussion of how the human world effects wild animals.  

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.