Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Noi's father is a fisherman, and when he leaves early every morning, Noi knows "he wouldn't be home again till dark." But Noi's solitary life (with the exception of the family's six cats) ends when he discovers a baby whale washed up on the beach. He gives the whale a new home in his bathtub, plays it water-themed music (note the album of Handel's Water Music by the tub), and tells it "stories about life on the island. The whale was an excellent listener." The whale must go back to the sea, of course, but not before Noi's father steps outside his grueling routine and recognizes how much his son yearns for companionship. This is a lovely story of familial rapprochement in every respect; in his debut as author, illustrator Davies's (Railroad Hank) matter-of-fact but deeply empathic storytelling is matched by crisp, evocative scenes of coastal life, from the ramshackle, weathered home where Noi and his father live to the endless expanse of the ocean at night. There's no big finish or obvious lesson, but the message about the importance of being seen is difficult to miss. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Noi lives by the sea with his father and six cats. His dad leaves early for work on his fishing boat and doesn't return until dark. Noi appears to be around six and is extremely lonely until the day he finds a small beached whale. Instead of trying to return it to the water, Noi hefts it into his wagon and puts it in his bathtub. He plays music for it and tells it stories. When his father returns, he discovers the whale, and together they return it to the sea. The man realizes how lonely his son has been, and on last pages, they are seen having a picnic together. The story will be confusing to the target audience. It would appear that the whale is an imaginary friend that Noi has conjured up to stave off his loneliness. Obviously, he would be physically incapable of moving a whale, no matter how small. However, if that's the case, it makes no sense that a father would take a small boy out on at night in a rowboat on choppy seas. The illustrations appear to be watercolor and have some of the charming details found in the work of Barbara Cooney, but this is an additional purchase.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Young Noi lives with his fisherman father (and six cats) in a modest house on the beach. His hard-working dad is away from early morning until night, so Noi is on his own during the day. On one such morning Noi finds a little whale washed up on shore. He brings it home and cares for it in the bathtub: "He knew that it wasn't good for a whale to be out of the water." Boy and whale spend a pleasant day together, with Noi telling stories, playing music on a record player, and sharing his dinner. Noi worries his dad will be angry about the unexpected house guest; on the contrary, the discovery of a whale in his bathtub clues Noi's father in to how much his son needs companionship. Davies's text is spare and straightforward, letting his often dramatic illustrations do much of the physical and emotional scene-setting. The images are effectively varied between cozy interiors and vast expanses of stormy sea and sky, the latter emphasizing little Noi's loneliness and isolation. After the whale returns to the sea and its pod ("where it belonged"), Noi's father puts his attention where it belongs, on his son. A quietly affecting and visually striking book. kitty flynn (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The story of a very unusual friendship.Noi lives with his father and six cats in an isolated home by a shining sea. Bright, simple text that sparkles with clarity and quietly dazzling illustrations that have the feel of another time and place describe Noi at home with his feline compatriots as his father goes out to work on a fishing boat. While walking on the shore, Noi discovers a small beached whale and brings his curious new friend home to the family tub with the best possible results. His father isn't angry at all but realizes that Noi has been lonely. As the whale needs to be in water, however, Noi's father rows boy and whale through the stormy ocean until they reach a suitable depth. (Both humans are clad in yellow oilskins and sou'westers.) This imaginative, offbeat and original tale, lightly dusted with believable magic, perfectly captures a generous child's loyalty and dedication and ends with comfort and subtlety. Noi gazes off to sea, an obvious pair of parent-child flukes in the distance, thinking of when he will see his friend again, while his beloved father watches him, clearly enjoying relaxing with his son. Replete with both peaceful charm and a sense of wonder, this is a selection children will embrace and come back to time and time again. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
