The Whale Child by Elizabeth Pulford

On the night of a raging storm, a baby girl survived a shipwreck and was rescued by a pod of whales. She grew bigger, learning to spout water and plunge deep into the sea, just like her whale family. But one day she strayed too far, and her life changed forever.

So goes the story that great-grandma tells Honey. Honey longs to know who the brave girl in the story is and what happened to her. But great-grandma never reveals her identity.

The Whale Child is a poetic and mystic story by author Elizabeth Pulford. She fills the story with rich language, including alliteration and similes, making it a lovely read aloud. Younger readers will be swept up by the story of courage and hope. A twist is revealed at the end, although not through the story but in the illustrations.

Illustrator Jane Smith brings the world to life with deep swirling seas in luminescent colours. She captures the colours and flow of the ocean perfectly, alongside stormy seas and deep water. Her characters are full of emotion and wonder.

It's always lovely to see intergenerational relationships within books, and Pulford and Smith capture the warmth and joy of bedtime stories within the story. There is also a lovely little message about caring for nature within the pages.

This is a sweet little story with a clever twist, perfect for bedtime sharing.

Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell

Bateman Books