Inspired by a video he saw of an actual whale rescue, author/artist Mordicai Gerstein spins this tale of a young boy and his efforts to free the humpbacked whale caught in his father's fishing nets. Although his father is more concerned about their nets, and what this will mean for their livelihood as fisherman, the boy identifies with the whale, recalling an experience from his own early childhood, in which he got caught in some nets, and almost drowned. Disobeying his father, the boy sets out to free the whale...

Gerstein pairs an engaging tale with gorgeous artwork in The Boy and the Whale, creating in the process a picture-book that is emotionally engrossing. Young listeners will be on the edge of their seats during the boy's dangerous quest to help the whale, and will enter wholly into the happiness that his new cetaceous friend feels, upon liberation. For my part, I loved the scene in which the humpbacked whale breaches into the air, jumping high in jubilation. A lovely book, one that explores our emotional connection as human beings to the other creatures in our world, this is one I would recommend to young animal and whale lovers, and to anyone looking for beautifully-illustrated books about the ocean and its majestic inhabitants. ( )