Emma and the Whale

PreS-Gr 2—The sea coast comes alive in this lyrical tale as Emma and her dog gather shells, stones, and sea glass. "She smelled the salty air. The sea and the sky swirled together as she skipped past the misty dunes to the shoreline." The child loves her home, and her heartfelt concern for the environment and its "teeming life" is apparent as she pictures an ocean without "balloons or bottles spit to shore." One day, Emma and her dog discover a stranded baby whale. She tries to help the frightened animal, telling the baby to "think of your pod and your family. Picture yourself swimming free." Rendered in watercolor and mixed media, the illustrations awaken the senses and enhance the well-paced plot. Maritime hues, vignettes, and spreads complement the story line as Emma and her dog, Nemo, work hard to nudge the heavy creature until "a few more pushes and the whale slipped past Emma and ducked under a wave."