Ida and the Whale

by Rebecca Gugger, Simon Rïthlisberger (Illustrator)

Overview

What lies behind the sun, the moon, and the stars?

Ida can’t stop thinking about these and other very important questions. Then one night, a flying whale wakes her and takes her on an amazing journey—where some of her questions are answered and even more created.

This gentle, philosophical tale is a visual treat sure to fill curious little listeners with wonder.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735843417
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	03/26/2019
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.70(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger were both born in Switzerland and live together in Thun near forests, mountains, and fresh air. Rebecca is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer who studied at the HKB (Bern University of the Arts) and likes to have her head in the clouds. Simon is a trained graphic designer currently working as an art director and has been known to hoist a sail or two. Every now and then the two work together as a team, wielding pen and pencil side by side.

Simon Röthlisberger and Rebecca Gugger were both born in Switzerland and live together in Thun near forests, mountains, and fresh air. Rebecca is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer who studied at the HKB (Bern University of the Arts) and likes to have her head in the clouds. Simon is a trained graphic designer currently working as an art director and has been known to hoist a sail or two. Every now and then the two work together as a team, wielding pen and pencil side by side.

Editorial Reviews

In this magical picture book we join Ida and her whale friend and go on a journey that encourages us to think about our own journeys. Sometimes, like Ida, we have to change our perspective so that we can understand others. Sometimes we have to learn how to weather storms, and how to embrace silence.

Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review - Marya Jansen-Gruber

Combined mediums of watercolor, pen, and computer graphics illustrate the beautiful and philosophically situated worlds Ida and the flying whale visit on their journey.

OmniLibros

From storms to growing to loneliness, Ida and the Whale is a special little book that I could see becoming a favourite for any child whose imagination leaves them feeling inspired and yet alone at the same time...This is a wondrous book that any child is likely to connect with on some level.

Epic Stitching

04/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—Ida lives a quiet life of solitude high up in a tree house surrounded by a peaceful forest of birch trees and animals. She spends her days gazing out from her little porch, dreaming of what lies beyond her tiny corner of the world. Her dreams come to life when, after a thunderous shake of her tiny tree house in the middle of the night, she discovers a gigantic flying whale at her doorstep. With Ida on his back, the whale embarks on a journey through the clouds to magical and mysterious places: through thick clouds, past the moon and the stars, and to strange upside-down and unfamiliar worlds. Ida is swept away by all the new things she sees, and when she feels uncertain about her new surroundings, the whale is there to protect and reassure her. When a storm comes, Ida is especially happy she has a companion for the journey, but when the storm dies down, she is overwhelmed by homesickness. "I'm right here," the whale reminds her, and Ida remembers that even though she's lonely sometimes, friends are "close together—always." A lesson in empathy and a tribute to friendship, this gentle book provides comfort to readers who might be experiencing unfamiliar change. Whimsical, colorful, and detailed illustrations will captivate young readers with wonder and curiosity. Words and pictures work perfectly in tandem to produce a calming effect. VERDICT An excellent choice for read-alouds or one-on-one sharing, this picture book will inspire compassion and warmth in readers of all ages.—Natalie Romano, Denver Public Library

School Library Journal

2019-01-15

A young girl journeys on the back of a flying whale in this picture book, first published in Switzerland and translated from German into English.

Ida, a redheaded white girl who lives in a treehouse in a peaceful birch forest, often wonders "what lay beyond." One night, woken by the shaking of her treehouse, she peers out to see a flying whale. Gugger and Röthlisberger's sumptuous illustrations, evocative of the work of Lisbeth Zwerger, are infused with the sort of whimsical detail that makes for the best fantasy ambiance. When the whale invites Ida to go on a journey with him "beyond the stars," Ida accepts eagerly. They talk about "all kinds of things. BIG and little" and eventually come to a place where everything is upside down. Here, the whale nudges the puzzled Ida to think beyond what she thinks is "normal"; and later, Ida's question about why a flower is sending its seeds to the sky prompts the whale to explain, "So it can grow again…all of us grow." Themes of curious exploration, growth, and friendship are all introduced in this whimsical, delicate way, accompanied by evocative illustrations. The only off-note is an inconsistency in the illustrative depictions of the size relationship between Ida and the whale, and while it could possibly be excused by the fantasy nature of the story, it's noticeable. The endpaper illustrations deftly underscore the enrichment that results from journeys.

Enchanting and intriguing. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews