Astonished.
Silenced.
Lingering awe.
Unexpected emotions after reading IN THE WORLD OF WHALES, by Michelle Cusolito (Neal Porter Books, 2025) and Jessica Lanan (illustrator of A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider).
Unexpected because after reading other nonfiction picture books about whales, I thought: what else could be said, right?
The past few years have brought numerous picture books on whales (Whale Fall by Melissa Stewart, Life After Whale by Lynn Brunelle, narrative vs poetic considerations of ecosystem after a whale dies, Whales in the City by Nancy Groenig (conservation/climate change focus).
IN THE WORLD OF WHALES is a testament to why there is always room in the market for more.
This is the magically gorgeous, true story of free divers, Fred Buyle and Kurt Amsler who witnessed the birth of a sperm whale. No doubt, an experience that would astonish. But in the hands of Cusolito and Lanan, it becomes as Edelweiss puts it, a “dreamlike marriage of information and art.”
Astonished: Cusolito’s expertly employs every lyrical writerly tool to draw me in. Listen to these soft s sounds: “A small crew seeking sperm whales spots a clan huddled near the surface.” “A free diver slips over the side of the boat, floats face down, and breathes through a snorkel.” You might be tempted to shout out loud: SHOW! DON’T TELL! – and she does. “The water tingles with creaks and clicks from the whales.”
The pairing of Lanan’s stunning art prepares me: Sunlight sparkles on the water. Laser-bright glare reflects off the surface. A zodiac raft buoyed by mixed blues of deep water approaches. I hear the decreasing grown, feel the pullback as the motor slows, a wake of ocean spray as it slices across the surface. And this is just the endpapers and title page!
Cusolito recounts the ballet of a free dive. Using simple onomatopoeia, we hear the diver’s practiced inhale, “Whooooh!” and exhale, “Hwaaahh!” Side by side, the calf’s first breaths “Pfffffff!” become a beautiful refrain revealing the true connection of mammals – both human and whale.
In the silence of the underwater world, she speaks to the reader, asking our questions: What are they doing? Is the clan caring for a wounded whale? Is he in danger? How far did they travel? What are they saying to one another? Who’s studying whom?
And the gatefold! Lanan gives us the whale’s perspective, eyeing a human above it, gliding down, down, down toward it, then pans out to show us its magnificence and our smallness – with an up-close view of its eye. The culmination: the gatefold! We watch the panoramic dance when “The man is one with the whales.” It is no wonder she chooses to end this experience with the diver’s silence.
I was not there, yet this story remains. Lingering awe.
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains.
This looks beautiful! Thanks for the thoughtful review. I will order this one from my local library…and if they don’t have it, I’ll request that they purchase it. I love whales and how we humans connect with them. Thanks again.
This looks like a magnificent book. I definitely need to look for it. Thank you for sharing this lovely review.
Thanks for sharing, Patricia, my library has it!
Beautiful! Some subjects, like whales, are for-always. xo
Patricia, thank you! I writing this down for reading to the 2nd grade class next year.