Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic

by Candace Fleming, Deena So'Oteh (Illustrator)

Venture to the Arctic Ocean and discover real life underwater unicorns--narwhals--in this stunningly illustrated nonfiction picture book.You are a narwhal. Shy... Swift... Small... Humans call you unicorn of the Arctic.When winter ice covers the Arctic Ocean, a narwhal pokes his head through a patch of open water, his tusk--a six-foot long tooth--pointed to the sky.Join this mammal as he jousts with another narwhal, floats with his pod, and uses echolocation to find his prey. When warmer weather arrives, he will migrate towards summer ground. But he must be careful! Predators--orcas and polar bears--will be hungry and looking for a meal.... How will the narwhal escape? Will he be able to return to the winter bay? Paired with atmospheric illustrations by debut illustrator Deena So'Oteh, nonfiction master Candace Fleming delivers a picture book, uniquely told in second person, that expertly explores the mysterious and fascinating unicorn of the Arctic.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Childrens, Science, Stem

46 pages, Hardcover

First published October 22, 2024

About the author

I have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.

I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.

Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.

In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.

As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.

After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.

But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.

Reviews

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is riveting, with two nail-biter danger parts where Fleming juices up the peril of living in the wild. I would give a five to the composition and dynamic placement and page-turns of the pages, but there was something about the computer generated artwork that I found disappointing.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all learned some new things and those illustrations were absolutely gorgeous!

[Shella · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ++++ Wow- just wow. I really hope this book takes home a medal of some kind. Really interesting facts that are rather recent. Narwhals are incredibly interesting creatures! The POV was one of my favorite parts. The illustrations are just stunning and the fold out page was icing on the cake- my favorite picture book this year! Needs to be in every library.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Poetic flair to the Fascinating look at the unicorn of the sea over a year in the life, migrating to warmer summer waters then back to its winter grounds. Stunning, yet simple, paintings. Intriguing back matter, bibliography. Text and illustrations expert checked. Wish there were some photos.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning

[Bridget Neace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting info about narwhals and GORGEOUS illustrations.

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned something new today. Narwhals are whales. Their tusk is a tooth but they have no teeth in their mouths. This is beautifully illustrated and there are pullout pages to assist in the comprehension of how far down narwhals need to dive. A well thought out book full of information.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating book! Told as if the reader is the Narwhal, we go through roughly a year of its life. I have to criticize the subtitle as both obvious but unclear. There are many book titles calling the narwhal the unicorn of the ocean. However, there was no explanation in this book why it is called that. I know, as an adult who reads, that unicorns have one tusk in fairy tales. But kids might not make that connection on their own.

The back matter was excellent. I liked the reassurance that a species is NOT endangered, for a change, along with the warning climate change could wreak havoc on narwhals. We simply don’t know enough to be sure. The illustrations were good.

Recommended, more for creating wonder in kids, than for school reports.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nine-year-old narwhal travels with his pod as they make their annual migration north for the summer and then south again for winter in this work of narrative non-fiction from veteran children's author Candace Fleming and illustrator Deena So'Oteh, a commercial artist who makes her picture book debut here. Jousting with his tusk, following the narrow cracks in the ice known as leads, diving deep to hunt fish, avoiding killer whales and polar bears, desperately fighting for air when trapped under ice—these and other experiences are described from the young narwhal's perspective. The book concludes with a detailed two-page note on the narwhal, including a list of amazing facts...

Published this past fall (October of 2024), Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic is one of two picture books about this smallest of the whales that I read today—the other being Justin Anderson and Jo Weaver's Narwhal: The Arctic Unicorn . I found it an engaging and informative book, and I enjoyed the way in which it was told. Somewhat longer than the Anderson/Weaver title—it is 46 pages, as compared to 24—I thought it went into greater detail than the other book, and that it felt a little more immersive, from a narrative perspective. That being said, the artwork did not appeal to me as much as that done by Jo Weaver. It was lighter in color and tone, and was often quite cute—the cover artwork is what drew me to it in the first place, leading me to request it and the other title from the library—but it also frequently felt flat, and somehow off. I appreciated the design choice to have a four-page vertical fold-out depicting the narwhals diving, but other than that, I didn't really care for the visuals here, which felt a little too shiny and unreal. Tastes vary of course, so others might enjoy the artwork here, and I certainly recommend the book from a narrative perspective.

If half stars were available I would give this a 3.5-star rating, but as they are not I have opted for 3 stars.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something fascinating and mysterious about narwhals with their long, pointed tusks. Youngsters interested in marine animals or those like me who find these unusual animals ever intriguing. With exquisite, inviting text, this picture book puts readers right into the head and body of a male narwhal during a year's journey. As always, Candace Fleming excels with her use of relatable descriptive words depicting the narwhal and its surroundings: for instance, the tusk is described as "green with algae and alive with sea lice" (unpaged), while its habitat is described thusly: "the whistle and wail of the wind, the rasp and groan of the ever-shifting sea" (unpaged). As the narwhal, readers joust with other males, head to the surface for air, sleep, feed, follow your pod in search of food, return to the Arctic ice, a journey that you will repeat for several years, if you survive. The text immerses readers in the narwhal's world and adds tension when almost impenetrable ice makes it hard to break through a crack where danger in the form of a polar bear looms. The artwork, created with Procreate and analogue features, is just as compelling as the text with a double-page close-up of the polar bear swiping at the narwhal's tusk as it emerges through a hole in the ice as well as close-ups of a walrus, orcas, and the narwhal and its pod, of course. Helpful back matter provides additional facts about narwhals, undoubtedly spurring some readers to want to learn even more. This picture book is a must-have, truly a must-have, for any elementary or intermediate science classroom library. It's impossible to finish the book without thinking of just how perilous a narwhal's existence is. And the fact that narwhals migrate along the same path--increasingly dangerous--as well as returning to a place where the ice is melting in unpredictable ways prompts justifiable concern for these unicorns of the Arctic.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You are a narwhal - shy, swift, small (for a whale).” Those are the opening and closing words of this glimpse into a year in the life of a male narwhal.  Lyrical lines and luminous illustrations depict the tusked whale as it dives for fish, evades predatory orcas and a polar bear, and seeks leads (cracks in the ice which serve as breathing holes) along with its pod throughout its annual migration from winter to summer home and back again.  Attention is also given to the physical attributes of these creatures, particularly the tusk, “a single twisting rod of ivory” that protrudes from the upper jaw of adult male narwhals: “thick as a lamppost, taller than a man, it is green with algae and alive with sea lice.”  

Candice Fleming has done it again - this is a gorgeous, entertaining, and informative book.  The use of the 2nd person, present tense perspective allows readers to dive right into this Arctic adventure and experience the narwhal’s everyday existence and annual cycle.  Fleming uses poetic phrasing even as she presents scientific concepts like echolocation and food webs.  The narration style also aptly sets the tone for every event, such as when the narwhal wakes up hungry after calmly floating with its podmates, and abruptly dives deep to find some fish, or when the pod is trapped under ice and frantically searches for a breathing hole, only to be found by a polar bear.  The digitally rendered illustrations match the story perfectly, using light and shadow and reflection to authentically depict the Arctic setting and the ocean depths, and showing the narwhals and other creatures in realistic detail.  An extensive author’s note is appended, with a lot of useful and interesting information about narwhals, their survival skills, and their relationship to the environment. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candy Fleming's books are always, always amazing. This one is a great intro to narwhals because Wow! There is so much to learn about these truly awesome "unicorns". It starts off with "You are a narwhal - shy, swift, small (for a whale)." I loved the "for a whale" line. That is explored a bit more in the book - comparing the size of narwhals to the size of other whales. For perspective, the tusk alone is 6 to 9 feet long.

What I learned -
Narwhal battling with their tusks is called tusking. Narwhals don't have a mouth full of teeth but they do have one - a very long tusk that juts out through their jaw. But it's usually just the males that have the tusk. Sometimes there will be a female. And sometimes -- a male will have two tusks! Since they don't have teeth, they suck fish into their mouths and swallow them whole.

They eat a lot in winter and put on extra weight. Moms for babies. But everyone bulks up because there is not as much food where they spend the summer.

Orcas are the predators. And polar bears. But getting trapped under the ice is their biggest threat.

Fortunately narwhals are thriving. They are classified as an animal of least concern - even though there are only 170, 000 of them.

A bit mysterious, scientists are partnering with indigenous communities like the Inuit to learn more about narwhals.

Narwhals have collapsible rib cages which allows them to dive more than a mile. 18 to 25 times a day.

Even though they are not currently endangered, it is important to protect the narwhals. Climate change is already having an impact on them - and we don't know how they will adapt to the changes.

A list of sources is included.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is this book wonderfully illustrated but the text reads beautifully. The book follows a young male narwhal through one migration cycle explaining through poetic text how they survive in the Arctic during the winter before heading south for the summer. Information about tusks, hunting, breathing, and predation are presented beautifully in both text and art. The digital art practically jumps off the page. Interestingly, the book is written as if the reader is the main character (male narwhal) referring to you throughout the text. It adds to the tension of the narrative as the narwhal faces suffocation beneath the ice as well as predation by killer whales and polar bears. The back matter provides additional information about narwhals and their existence. Additionally, the back matter also refers to the scientific research involved in learning about narwhals. References are included. A stunning science book perfect for young animal lovers and science teachers (not to mention ELA teachers, the poetry is wonderfully presented).

Highly recommended.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I picked up this book and felt the heft of it, I knew there was something special inside. Simple lyrical text takes me to the world of the Narwhal and by the second page, I am hooked. I spent the next few pages eagerly anticipating the wonder that the gatefold page would bring. (Illustrator Deena So'Oteh outdid herself on this one showing the depth of the narwhal hunting ground.) Candace Fleming has a way of writing in a peaceful melodic style that captivates all ages. Her skill is addictive and she has numerous awards to celebrate it. I am certain this one will capture many hearts and inspire some budding scientists. The backmatter includes a note and a bibliography. It is needed in every collection!

I will have to think about how best to share this one to get the full effect for all of my students.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal favorite Candace Fleming latest work is a beautiful nonfiction informational picture book that focuses on narwhals known as the unicorns of the Arctic. Fleming masterfully provides information about this not so familiar animal as she tells the story of the narwhals throughout a typical year. In her picture book debut, Deena So'oteh provides stunning full page, and two page spread illustrations including some fold outs. She effectively captures the arctic environment and the seasonal changes. End notes contain even more information about narwhals as well as some references for further study. Candace Fleming has one of the most eclectic body of works transcending both genres and age groups. She is a great author to get young readers hooked on.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is told from the perspective of a young narwhal. The reader follows along with the daily life (swimming, eating, hiding, migrating, etc.). This book is slightly long-winded with LOTS of text on every page. For a young reader, it may be too much, but it is so interesting! The author also amps up the suspense several times throughout the book, which makes the continued read more interesting. The illustrations throughout were digital yet nice. I wish that they had been a bit different, but they did the job well enough. I think that any young reader will love to read/listen to this book. Narwhals are quite the odd animal that we don't often talk/learn about. (Diamond 25-26)

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candance Fleming introduces readers to the life of a narwhal from winter to summer and back, how it feeds, dangers it faces, and its seasonal trips.

The absolutely stunning illustrations in this book would be worth 5 stars all by themselves, but Fleming’s text also shines. She provides a deeply informative, obviously well-researched, but not overly-text-heavy introduction to these mysterious creatures of the Arctic. I learned several things about narwhals from this book that I’d never heard before (like that they pig out in the winter and have lean times in the summer, the opposite to so many other creatures). This book is a feast for the mind and the eyes.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic is a nonfiction picture book that reads like an adventure. Author Candace Fleming’s text has a lovely cadence to it, inviting readers to take their time and explore. Illustrator Deena So’Oteh’s beautiful artwork utilizes color and light throughout. And the book’s foldout spread is stunning. Informative backmatter incudes more on the narwhal’s habitat and fun facts about the mamals.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic is an exciting read that kids will naturally be drawn to. It would make a great addition to a home or classroom library.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her signature narrative voice, Fleming takes us into the world of the Narwhal, the smallest whale in the ocean. The reader learns about the life cycle, feeding, dangers posed by predators and ice, and the deliciously depicted breath: Pssht! Ahhhh! Fleming is a master of nonfiction, bringing her subjects to vibrant life. Backmatter tells more about the narwhal and the research into this remarkable mammal. Gorgeous illustrations by Deena So’oteh.

[Louise Aamodt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candace Fleming dives deep into the secretive life of the narwhal in this picture book. Her very first words, "You are a narwhal" drew me right into the whale's daily activities, and perilous moments with predators and the ice freezing over kept me on the edge of my seat. Lyrical word choices bring the scenes to life: "The predators swim closer. They listen... for the shiver of a flipper, the tremble of a fluke." Gorgeous.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written picture book. Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic is a nonfiction picture book that follows a young male narwhal through a migration cycle. The writing is poetic as it explains how a narwhal survives the brutal winter. Students will be able to find information about tusks, hunting, and other narwhal facts.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

As many times as I've seen Narwhal's in movies & even have the Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea series in my library, I didn't know much about them. I enjoyed learning about narwhals in this book!

[James Biser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to what the narwhal is and how they survive. Most of these details are mysteries to the world. This book is written for chldren and shares details that have been unknown to science. It also includes details that will inspire readers to learn more about marine biology and the study of whales.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah. Candace Fleming at the top of her game! Lovely 2nd person introduction to narwhals and their amazing feats - echolocation! collapsable rib cages! and so much more. The art by Deena So’Oteh
is glorious. As wonderful as Ms Fleming's iconic award winning Honeybee book!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, haunting poetry descriptions, dramatic fiction-like moments. The author's note with lots of additional facts at the end credits the contributions of the local inuit to the broader scientific knowledge, and clarifies the dangers that they face.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unique whale is having a moment in pop culture, so while plenty of kids can recognize a narwhal, fewer know about their mysterious, peril-filled lives in the polar sea. This is an exciting nature adventure based upon factual behavior and habits of the narwhal.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn about the narwhal while putting yourself into its flippers. This book is informative and also suspenseful as the reader takes on the narwhal's POV and has moments where you are looking for a break in the ice to catch your breath. What a great way to learn more about the unicorn of the arctic!

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super cute. And very informative. The plot was a little iffy, but the illustrations and scientific aspect of it made up for it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations and beautifully laid out. Should be a Sibert contender for sure.

[Maggie - Busy Moms Read Too · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and great for the target age range!