Whale: The Illustrated Biography

by Asha De Vos, Adam Hook (illustrator)

A marvelously illustrated look at the life of the whale

Whales are the majestic giants of the ocean, yet much of their world remains a mystery to us. The routes of their vast oceanic migrations are largely elusive, as are the intricacies of their behavior and social dynamics. This narrative biography takes you out beyond our shorelines and into the depths, providing an up-close exploration of the life of the whale. It covers everything from conception and childhood to family history, relationships, communication, and life challenges, and explains why studying whales helps us to monitor the health of our planet’s oceans and marine ecosystems. Written by internationally acclaimed expert Asha de Vos, The Illustrated Biography blends engaging profiles of the best-known species with stunning illustrations to tell the story of these magnificent creatures in all their diversity and complexity.

Features a wealth of specially commissioned illustrationsDiscusses familiar species such as the humpback whale, blue whale, killer whale, and sperm whale, as well as smaller and more elusive cousinsCovers anatomy, hunting and feeding, migration, habitats, whale song, conservation, human interactions with whales, and much moreExplains how whales play key roles in nutrient cycling, regulating prey populations, and influencing carbon sequestrationA must-have reference for whale watchers everywhere

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Animals

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2026

About the author

Dr. Asha de Vos is an award-winning Sri Lankan marine biologist who has pioneered long-term blue whale research in the northern Indian Ocean. She has degrees from the University of St. Andrews, University of Oxford, and the University of Western Australia. Dr. de Vos is a TED Senior Fellow and founder of Oceanswell, Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation research and education organization. Dr. de Vos aims to inspire the next generation of ocean heroes from all corners of the globe.

Reviews

[Peter Tillman]

On the Five Best list at Nature, https://www.nature.com/articles/d4158...

"In the seventeenth century, right whales (Eubalaena spp.) were so common in Cape Cod Bay on the eastern coast of the United States that whalers joked that they could cross the bay by walking across the whales’ backs. Today, fewer than 400 right whales survive worldwide — a bleak testament to their name, which was bestowed by whalers who deemed them the ‘right’ whales to kill because they were slow-moving and rich in blubber. Such details enliven marine biologist Asha de Vos’s excellent, well-illustrated book about whales."

TBR!

[Sandra Angulo]

Molt bon llibre per qui busca una introducció divulgativa i bastant completa dels cetacis. No cal tenir coneixements previs però no per això cau en una simplificació excessiva (de fet, m'ha servit per recordar alguns temes de biologia a l'institut). Els dibuixos ajuden i son preciosos, si bé és cert que una mica més de rigurositat i precisió m'haguera agradat, com per exemple a l'hora de visualitzar les diferents vies migratòries o per saber en quines parts del món hi ha presència de cada espècie.
Això no obstant, continue pensant que és molt bon llibre i el recomane moltíssim, a més no és gens dens i serveix com a lectura d'entreteniment.