Moby Dick: A Brambletale Press Adaptation

by Philip Graham, CatCow Studio (Illustrator)

Introduce your child to one of the greatest adventure stories ever told with Moby A Brambletale Press Adaptation. This beautifully illustrated children’s book retells Herman Melville’s classic tale in simple, engaging language designed for early readers ages 5–8.

Young readers will meet Ishmael, Queequeg, and the unforgettable Captain Ahab as they set sail on a daring voyage to hunt the legendary white whale, Moby Dick. With vibrant full-color 1930's rubber hose animation style illustrations by Portland-based CatCow Studio, this adaptation captures the excitement, mystery, and timeless themes of the original novel in a fun way that kids can enjoy and understand.

Perfect for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers, this adaptation makes a lasting introduction to classic literature while encouraging curiosity about the sea, whales, and storytelling. Whether for bedtime reading, classroom lessons, or library shelves, Moby Dick remains an unforgettable adventure, now made accessible for today’s young readers.

To make the story even more interactive and educational, this edition also

A full-color maze and word search

A black-and-white coloring page

A kid-friendly glossary of key terms

Five fun facts about whales

A short, illustrated biography of Herman Melville

Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2025

About the author

Philip Graham was born in Portland, Oregon, and has loved books since childhood.

He founded Brambletale Press after the birth of his second child, inspired to share the joy of classic literature with future generations.

His debut title is a beautifully hand-illustrated early reader adaptation of Moby Dick, designed to introduce young readers to one of America’s most enduring stories.

His latest book, Midnight Poetry, is a delightfully spooky anthology of classic poems from the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, Robert Louis Stevenson, William Shakespeare and H.P. Lovecraft.

He is hard at work on his next project, so stay tuned for more exciting stories to come!

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cute! The illustrations helped capture the magic of the original tale and it was told in a family friendly way. Though there were some tonal whiplashes for me when the narrative was talking about the whale crushing the boat and the whale was smiling and perfectly serene.

But regardless, it was cute, and the tone was fun. Definitely a good way to introduce the story to younger readers.

[Calin Maxim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the comics book style and the retro illustrations, that go very well with the vocabulary and style used by the characters. The story is very much simplified, of course, but good as a bed time read for small children, in order to raise their interest for classics.

[Marin . · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not an easy job for the author to squeeze an epic allegorical novel into a 32-page picture book, and his effort must be admired.
Unfortunately, from the iconic "Call me Ishmael" to the monomaniacal dystopian quest of madman Captain Ahab, young readers may not be able to grasp the unholy and unjustifiable war against a gigantic sea creature and peek into the heart of one of the greatest titles of all time.
Again, it is not the author's fault: The original publication is a weird book, an encyclopedia of ideas that can not be planted easily in a child's mind.
The visuals, with their cartoonish style, are trying to soften the self-destructing obsession of the Pequod's captain, and the speech bubbles may help young readers view the story as an easily digestible comic publication.

[Victoria Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun interpretation of the original Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Captain Ahab who had a wooden leg caused by Moby Dick was in charge of his ship. He had revenge in his eyes and was determined to get Moby Dick or go down with him trying. That he did! The rest of the crew Ishmael loved the ocean and Queeqneg practiced using a harpoon unfortunately on smaller fish intended for the white whale. I like how this author included a bio for the author of Moby Dick at the end and kid like activities included. Victoria Smith

[Ameliessa Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit, Moby Dick wasn't a book I expected to be reading with my daughter! But this adaptation makes the story feel approachable, adventurous, and genuinely fun. The illustrations do a wonderful job of pulling readers into the journey, and the simplified text keeps the focus on the excitement and wonder of the voyage. It's a great way to introduce kids to a classic they may revisit when they're older. A lovely addition to any family bookshelf.

[Carolyn Watson-Dubisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually love this simple retelling of Moby Dick for kids! The illustrations made it perfect. The style is similar to early animation styles like Betty Boop or Felix the Cat, but in color. The faces on the ships and on the harpoon were just great!
This is a perfect addition to your child's bookshelf.

[David Price · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting idea
trying to make something more out of a classic
I especially enjoyed the illustrations they were very comical
Ishmael remind me of Pinocchio
I guess maybe if you’re a very young child and you have never heard of Moby Dick
you might enjoy it