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A review by snowelf
If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano
5.0
By the same authors as [b:And Then It's Spring|11891485|And Then It's Spring|Julie Fogliano|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317794308s/11891485.jpg|16850550], another beautiful book about the virtue of patience. The poetic text alerts you to all the things that may come to distract you and obliterate your chances of sighting a whale, and it's light, humorous and grave, all at the same time, just like a child's reflection. But, best of all, makes it sound so simple and within reach: If you want to see a whale/ you will need a window/ and an ocean/ and time for waiting.
And luckily, all the things to avoid, seem so worthwhile in themselves, it appears like a win-win situation.
If you want to see a whale/ there's no time to watch the pelican/ who may or may not be smiling/ while sitting, staring, looking out/ because pelicans who sit and stare can never be a whale.
If you want to see a whale/ be careful not to notice/ something inching, small and green/ across the leaf, just nibble scoot/because things that are smaller than most small things/ can't be as giant as a whale.
If you want to see a whale/ you shouldn't watch the clouds/ some floating by, some hanging down/ in the sky that's spread out, side to side/ or the certain sun that's shining/ because if you start to look straight up/ you might just miss a whale.
Just like the text, the pencil illustrations are simple and beautiful. And the mood captured by them is this time-standing-still feeling, just like in the other books illustrated so far by
[a:Erin E. Stead|4581894|Erin E. Stead|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66-2a9d702c2a0f483c9f7dd119cc28a9a7.jpg], [b:A Sick Day for Amos McGee|7268995|A Sick Day for Amos McGee|Philip C. Stead|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312019421s/7268995.jpg|8391024] and [b:Bear Has a Story to Tell|13170028|Bear Has a Story to Tell|Philip C. Stead|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362667189s/13170028.jpg|18349343]. Highly recommended if you want something understated but touching, to enjoy quietly with your child.
(And yes, I've seen a whale!)
And luckily, all the things to avoid, seem so worthwhile in themselves, it appears like a win-win situation.
If you want to see a whale/ there's no time to watch the pelican/ who may or may not be smiling/ while sitting, staring, looking out/ because pelicans who sit and stare can never be a whale.
If you want to see a whale/ be careful not to notice/ something inching, small and green/ across the leaf, just nibble scoot/because things that are smaller than most small things/ can't be as giant as a whale.
If you want to see a whale/ you shouldn't watch the clouds/ some floating by, some hanging down/ in the sky that's spread out, side to side/ or the certain sun that's shining/ because if you start to look straight up/ you might just miss a whale.
Just like the text, the pencil illustrations are simple and beautiful. And the mood captured by them is this time-standing-still feeling, just like in the other books illustrated so far by
[a:Erin E. Stead|4581894|Erin E. Stead|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66-2a9d702c2a0f483c9f7dd119cc28a9a7.jpg], [b:A Sick Day for Amos McGee|7268995|A Sick Day for Amos McGee|Philip C. Stead|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312019421s/7268995.jpg|8391024] and [b:Bear Has a Story to Tell|13170028|Bear Has a Story to Tell|Philip C. Stead|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362667189s/13170028.jpg|18349343]. Highly recommended if you want something understated but touching, to enjoy quietly with your child.
(And yes, I've seen a whale!)