The Boy and the Whale - Hardcover

Mordicai Gerstein was born in in Los Angeles, California, where he attended Chouinard Art Institute. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City, where he worked at designing and directing animated films for television and met the writer, Elizabeth Levy, with whom he created the Something Queer Is Going On series of mystery picture books. This experience inspired him to write and illustrate over forty of his own books, several of which have been named New York Times Notable and Best Illustrated Books. He received the 2004 Caldecott Medal for The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. Mordicai lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Susan.

Gr 1–5— As the sun rises, a boy sees something big out in the sea—a whale. The boy Abelardo and his fisherman father ride their panga out to the whale who is caught in their fishing net. Pragmatic Papa is concerned about his net, but his son wants to save the whale. Back on shore, the boy's conscience tells him he must at least try to help the animal. He rides the panga back. He dives and cuts the net, dives and cuts, until the whale finally breaks free, reveling with joy. When Abelardo returns to shore his father awaits, hands on hips. With a hug, Papa commends his boy for following his heart to do something foolish yet brave. The first-person narrative balances action and dialogue that are both casual and filled with a gentle gravity. Gerstein's storytelling is simple yet effective. The story provides readers with the right amount of information, allowing them to easily understand the subtleties under the surface of Abelardo's relationship with his father. The mixed-media illustrations are dominated by ocean blues, creamy sun-dappled yellows, and the dignified dark gray whale. Gerstein explores light and shadow in the atmospheric and detailed images grounded in strong compositions and beautiful line work. The specific location remains unnamed; however Abelardo's Spanish name, the characters' brown skin, and the coastal setting point to a Latin American locale. According to the publisher's website, this story was inspired by a real-life video of a whale's rescue. VERDICT This beautifully illustrated story with universal themes is a definite first purchase for libraries.— Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library