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Someday, Narwhal
“Kids will love this tiny little protagonist who dares to dream big.” — Booklist
“The little narwhal from Strictly No Elephants gets her own story…Equally good as a stand-alone or for fans of the first book.” — School Library Journal
In this charming companion to the award-winning picture book Strictly No Elephants , a tiny narwhal discovers that sometimes the difference between staying home and a big adventure is a group of loving friends.
Red front door. Potted plant. Umbrella stand. Piano. Red front door. Potted plant. Umbrella stand. Piano.
That’s what the world looks like from inside Tiny Narwhal’s fishbowl. It’s not very exciting. She dreams of the world beyond: endless blue sky, tall buildings, a bridge. But Tiny Narwhal hasn’t any feet and doesn’t know the street names. And what if it’s cold outside?
What this little narwhal does have, though, are good friends. With the help of her boy and his friends, plus a penguin, bat, and giraffe, Tiny Narwhal finally feels brave enough to go on an adventure.
Someday, Narwhal features the same adorable cast of pets and sweet, lyrical language as Lisa Mantchev’s beloved Strictly No Elephants .
“The little narwhal from Strictly No Elephants gets her own story…Equally good as a stand-alone or for fans of the first book.” — School Library Journal
In this charming companion to the award-winning picture book Strictly No Elephants , a tiny narwhal discovers that sometimes the difference between staying home and a big adventure is a group of loving friends.
Red front door. Potted plant. Umbrella stand. Piano. Red front door. Potted plant. Umbrella stand. Piano.
That’s what the world looks like from inside Tiny Narwhal’s fishbowl. It’s not very exciting. She dreams of the world beyond: endless blue sky, tall buildings, a bridge. But Tiny Narwhal hasn’t any feet and doesn’t know the street names. And what if it’s cold outside?
What this little narwhal does have, though, are good friends. With the help of her boy and his friends, plus a penguin, bat, and giraffe, Tiny Narwhal finally feels brave enough to go on an adventure.
Someday, Narwhal features the same adorable cast of pets and sweet, lyrical language as Lisa Mantchev’s beloved Strictly No Elephants .
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2017
1 person is currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Mantchev
32 books1,301 followersLisa Mantchev is a temporally-displaced Capricorn who casts her spells from an ancient tree in the Pacific Northwest. When not scribbling, she is by turns an earth elemental, English professor, actress, artist, and domestic goddess. She shares her abode with her husband, two children, and three hairy miscreant dogs.
She is best known as the author of the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Théâtre Illuminata. Published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan,) the series includes the Andre Norton and Mythopoeic awards-nominated EYES LIKE STARS (2009), PERCHANCE TO DREAM (2010), and SO SILVER BRIGHT (2011.) Her Kindle #1 Bestselling young adult steampunk novel, TICKER, is available from Skyscape. Her near-future young adult collaboration with Glenn Dallas, SUGAR SKULLS, is forthcoming from Skyscape.
Her adult urban fantasy collaboration with A.L. Purol, LOST ANGELES, is now available on Kindle along with its sequel, LOOSE CANON.
Her first picture book, STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS, is now available from Paula Wiseman/S&S, to be followed by SISTER DAY! and JINX AND THE DOOM FIGHT CRIME.
Stay updated with all the fun and glitter at her author website: www.lisamantchev.com
or get your Backstage Pass by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/LisaMantchev
She is best known as the author of the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Théâtre Illuminata. Published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan,) the series includes the Andre Norton and Mythopoeic awards-nominated EYES LIKE STARS (2009), PERCHANCE TO DREAM (2010), and SO SILVER BRIGHT (2011.) Her Kindle #1 Bestselling young adult steampunk novel, TICKER, is available from Skyscape. Her near-future young adult collaboration with Glenn Dallas, SUGAR SKULLS, is forthcoming from Skyscape.
Her adult urban fantasy collaboration with A.L. Purol, LOST ANGELES, is now available on Kindle along with its sequel, LOOSE CANON.
Her first picture book, STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS, is now available from Paula Wiseman/S&S, to be followed by SISTER DAY! and JINX AND THE DOOM FIGHT CRIME.
Stay updated with all the fun and glitter at her author website: www.lisamantchev.com
or get your Backstage Pass by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/LisaMantchev
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 1, 2020
In a world where a small boy has a giraffe, a penguin, and a kerchief-wearing bat as pals, I guess it's okay to keep a tiny narwhal in a fishbowl. But, dang it - she's bored, and she wants to see the world . . . or at least the local scenery. This was strange, but cute, with soft, dreamy pictures by Hyewon Yum.
December 12, 2017
Narwhal just wants to see the world, but she’s stuck in her fishbowl. What happens when they bring the world to her?
Cute illustrations but a bland story.
Cute illustrations but a bland story.
December 2, 2017
My 6 year old daughter thought this was really cute, so I gave it 4 stars but for me it's more of a 3 star book.
The illustrations are cute and the little narwhal is just adorable. But, the story was a bit weird for me. It probably would have made more sense if I had read the book that came before it, but, I didn't realize it was a second book. Basically the narwhal wants to see the world and when she tells her friends this, they offer to take her for a ride around the neighborhood in a little red wagon and she pretty much immediately backpedals away from her dream with excuses like they might get lost and so on. They talk her into going and the last couple pages include a scene where she sees travel posters for some iconic destinations and then she has a bunch of travel brochures under her fish bowl. I'm not sure whether it's saying that she is planning to see those places in real life or if she feels like she is seeing those places by just looking at the brochures through the fish bowl.
Anyways, my kid just cared that the narwhal was cute and that it got to ride in a red wagon. We pretty much read any picture book with a narwhal, so, glad we read this one too. It's suitable for other narwhal fans, just don't expect it to be quite as cute as some of the other narwhal books. It was still one of the cutest books in my libraries last picture book shipment, so, definitely not criticizing it.
The illustrations are cute and the little narwhal is just adorable. But, the story was a bit weird for me. It probably would have made more sense if I had read the book that came before it, but, I didn't realize it was a second book. Basically the narwhal wants to see the world and when she tells her friends this, they offer to take her for a ride around the neighborhood in a little red wagon and she pretty much immediately backpedals away from her dream with excuses like they might get lost and so on. They talk her into going and the last couple pages include a scene where she sees travel posters for some iconic destinations and then she has a bunch of travel brochures under her fish bowl. I'm not sure whether it's saying that she is planning to see those places in real life or if she feels like she is seeing those places by just looking at the brochures through the fish bowl.
Anyways, my kid just cared that the narwhal was cute and that it got to ride in a red wagon. We pretty much read any picture book with a narwhal, so, glad we read this one too. It's suitable for other narwhal fans, just don't expect it to be quite as cute as some of the other narwhal books. It was still one of the cutest books in my libraries last picture book shipment, so, definitely not criticizing it.
January 24, 2018
I really liked this book, but I was told by certain coworkers that it's really a book about animal abuse. I mean, okay, so the narwhal is a bit big for that fishbowl and, yes, the giraffe is lookin' a bit big 'round the middle and, sure, that bat shouldn't be out and about during the day--but darn it! This is a book about a child's love of their pet baby narwhal! They're the unicorns of the sea, for goodness sake!
November 15, 2017
Too cute!!
November 27, 2017
An absolutely adorable fantasy starring a very unique creature. It's worth noting, however, that real aquatic pets should never be kept in fishbowls.
November 15, 2017
Well, that was pretty damn adorable. How can I get a tiny narwhal that I can keep in a fishbowl?
October 18, 2017
Sweet, wonderful story about how friends help each other. Yum's soft, dreamy artwork perfectly complements Mantchev's words. I love that the narwhal's dreams come true!
November 4, 2017
A tiny pet narwhal living in a fish bowl longs to see the world and eventually her wish comes true on a red wagon ride through the city. Both the text and illustrations are well done in this story but there's some confusion in how they match up. When the narwhal expresses her longing for travel, the text seems to indicate she's talking just to her animal friends. Yet the child pet owners are shown listening, too, and it's unclear throughout the book how much they are or aren't involved in the adventure. I don't know if young readers would notice this, but the text-illustration mismatch distracted me from the story.
May 4, 2018
I think there are better "conquer your fears and explore the world with help from your friends" children's books out there. This one has rough illustrations that look more like concept sketches than the finished product, too much repetition in the text's slow beginning, and an abrupt ending that does not clearly convey any particular message. The children's exotic and talking pets should be charming but somehow come across as confusing instead. Not to mention, as other reviewers have pointed out, you should NEVER keep aquatic pets in a stagnant, stifling fishbowl. Skip it.
July 17, 2018
Meh. Weird book that advocates looking at pictures instead of seeing the world. I guess so kids won't feel bad about keeping a fish in a fishbowl (obvs a Narwhal can't live in a fishbowl). I'm not really sure what the author's after, but the book seems unintentionally sad--Narwhal gets to see the ocean, and how enormously blue it is, and then settles for a occasional walk down the street and travel photos. Not recommended.
June 19, 2020
"Someday, I'm going to travel everywhere. Someday, I'm going to see the world! [...] Someday is today!"
From the author of Strictly No Elephants, this is an imaginative story about a little narwhal in a fishbowl who wished to see the world, someday. With the help of some unusual and unlikely friends who could not be more different from her like giraffe and penguin and bat, the little narwhal finally got over her fears and went out to see 'the world' around the block on a red wagon (how fun!). It's a common theme about helping friends and facing fears to make your dream come true, which little readers would be able to relate to. The artwork is sweet with soft colours. The narwhal alone is adorable.
There are some mixed reviews about the fact that it's about a narwhal in a fishbowl, which might trigger a notion about animal cruelty and animals in captivity. But I think old-enough little readers would understand the impossibility of it and might even find it hilarious, or simply consider it as an imaginative story.
I was initially not really sure about what to make of the ending with posters and postcards of the world's landmarks strewn around the fishbowl, though. Should the narwhal be content just by looking at the postcards from her fishbowl? But then thinking on a more positive note, I guess the narwhal realises that it's a big world out there and she now dreams a bigger dream to travel the world, someday. My daughter loves the story and asked for re-reads several times.
From the author of Strictly No Elephants, this is an imaginative story about a little narwhal in a fishbowl who wished to see the world, someday. With the help of some unusual and unlikely friends who could not be more different from her like giraffe and penguin and bat, the little narwhal finally got over her fears and went out to see 'the world' around the block on a red wagon (how fun!). It's a common theme about helping friends and facing fears to make your dream come true, which little readers would be able to relate to. The artwork is sweet with soft colours. The narwhal alone is adorable.
There are some mixed reviews about the fact that it's about a narwhal in a fishbowl, which might trigger a notion about animal cruelty and animals in captivity. But I think old-enough little readers would understand the impossibility of it and might even find it hilarious, or simply consider it as an imaginative story.
I was initially not really sure about what to make of the ending with posters and postcards of the world's landmarks strewn around the fishbowl, though. Should the narwhal be content just by looking at the postcards from her fishbowl? But then thinking on a more positive note, I guess the narwhal realises that it's a big world out there and she now dreams a bigger dream to travel the world, someday. My daughter loves the story and asked for re-reads several times.
August 28, 2024
This book tells the story of a narwhal who is stuck inside the house in a fishbowl but is sad because she wants to see the world. She is too afraid to leave, though, but her owner and his friends eventually convince the narwhal to leave the house. She is so happy to see the world outside and that her dreams are starting to come true.
I think this is a sweet book that could be used for some lighthearted, fun literacy activities in early grades. Some ideas that I have are writing a story and/or drawing an illustration from the narwhal's point of view leaving the house. The book is very brief, so they could really work on diving deeper into her time out of the house. Also, I think it would be fun for kids to write about where the narwhal travels next because the last scene of the book shows her looking at travel books. Additionally, children could also use this book to talk about their dreams or goals. Finally, I think this could be a great opportunity to talk about friendship and supporting friends. Students could share their own experiences or discuss ways in which they can support their friends. Overall, I think that this could be a fun book for children, especially animal lovers, to become engaged in some literacy activities.
I think this is a sweet book that could be used for some lighthearted, fun literacy activities in early grades. Some ideas that I have are writing a story and/or drawing an illustration from the narwhal's point of view leaving the house. The book is very brief, so they could really work on diving deeper into her time out of the house. Also, I think it would be fun for kids to write about where the narwhal travels next because the last scene of the book shows her looking at travel books. Additionally, children could also use this book to talk about their dreams or goals. Finally, I think this could be a great opportunity to talk about friendship and supporting friends. Students could share their own experiences or discuss ways in which they can support their friends. Overall, I think that this could be a fun book for children, especially animal lovers, to become engaged in some literacy activities.
November 3, 2017
In a gentle text, filled with friendship and wonder, Lisa Mantchev invites the reader into a narwhal's confined fishbowl world. Where numerous obstacles (an inability to walk or read and fear of cold temperatures) to her dream to travel and explore, keep her confined and sad. Three friends and their animals respond to her boy's call for help. After each animal counters one of Narwhal's fears, they set off together on an adventure.
In a nod to the opening refrain, Yum's soft colored illustrations ingeniously include a red door, potted plant, umbrella stand, and piano along their way. Mantchev has created a tender story of bravery, friendship, cooperation, and perspective. Even though Narwhal can't see the world, she and her friends find a way to bring some of it to her.
In a nod to the opening refrain, Yum's soft colored illustrations ingeniously include a red door, potted plant, umbrella stand, and piano along their way. Mantchev has created a tender story of bravery, friendship, cooperation, and perspective. Even though Narwhal can't see the world, she and her friends find a way to bring some of it to her.
November 17, 2017
Narwhal books are a bit of a new trend and I couldn't be happier. They are an automatic read for me and more often than not a favorite too.
Being stuck in a fishbowl really isn't that bad when you have friends that help you travel the world. This was such a cute book, with some fun animal characters. A great book that teaches you that you are only limited by your imagination and your willingness to allow for help.
Being stuck in a fishbowl really isn't that bad when you have friends that help you travel the world. This was such a cute book, with some fun animal characters. A great book that teaches you that you are only limited by your imagination and your willingness to allow for help.
November 3, 2020
Narwhal is stuck in a bowl in the boy's living room. All that it can see is a red door, a potted plant, an umbrella stand and a piano.
The boy begins to notice that Narwhal seems down. So he brings over the neighborhood animals to see if they can cheer Narwhal up. They make a plan to take Narwhal on a walk. Finally Narwhal is able to see what's on the other side of the red front door.
Darling story for storytime.
The boy begins to notice that Narwhal seems down. So he brings over the neighborhood animals to see if they can cheer Narwhal up. They make a plan to take Narwhal on a walk. Finally Narwhal is able to see what's on the other side of the red front door.
Darling story for storytime.
November 8, 2017
An adorable story about a pet narwhal who is stuck in her comfort zone, but wants to embark on adventure. The text and illustrations will spark young readers' imaginations, as it playfully mixes places and things from everyday life along with unexpected creatures as pets. The story explores the themes of friendship, growth, and overcoming fears.
December 20, 2017
I was halfway through this book thinking the author was copying the funny pets of Strictly No Elephants. Of course, I realized halfway through, this is the same author! With the help of some friends, the narwhal from Strictly No Elephants gets her own story and explores her world. Good for pre-K or outreach.
February 16, 2018
The author may realize that there are things here that won't bother the kids, so why should it matter if it bothers the adults that you've got a narwhal crammed into a tiny fishbowl? But it does.
Add to that the fact that the storytelling and the art are both pretty bland, this is one of those books that I'm sure I'll be withdrawing for lack of use in a year or two from my shelves.
Add to that the fact that the storytelling and the art are both pretty bland, this is one of those books that I'm sure I'll be withdrawing for lack of use in a year or two from my shelves.
October 17, 2018
I mean, it’s an adorable narwhal book, so how bad could it be? But the narwhal lives in a fish bowl, which is weird and sort of sad, and there’s a random giraffe that lives in a suburban neighborhood, so it’s an odd little book. But the narwhal goes for a ride in a red wagon, and whelp, that’s cute.
September 30, 2019
Someday, Narwhal is a sweet book, with charming illustrations. We can see many children in Narwhal - their desire to do big things, coinciding with fear of the unknown. It's lovely, and the end result reminds us that with a little help from our friends we can have a big world, regardless of what our physical limitations may be.
September 10, 2025
I am not sure I liked the story. Narwhal wanted to see the world and it seems her friends were helping but she ended up just looking at magazines with travel destinations, instead of actually seeing the world.
I was wondering what a narwhal was doing on a fishbowl too but then the boys friends appeared with all sorts of pets.
The illustrations are cute though.
I was wondering what a narwhal was doing on a fishbowl too but then the boys friends appeared with all sorts of pets.
The illustrations are cute though.
January 17, 2018
The narwhal wants to explore the world outside the fishbowl but is afraid. Friends help the narwhal explore the world beyond the house.
Illustrations have lovely details but the text is rather bland.
Illustrations have lovely details but the text is rather bland.
February 4, 2018
Little Narwhal is bored with the view from his fishbowl. Then one day the boy and his friends decide to take Narwhal for a walk in a little red wagon. Along the way, Narwhal sees what he's been missing and when he returns home he can imagine the whole wide world inside his fishbowl.
May 1, 2018
I get by with a little help from my friends...
Narwhal wants to see the world. Can his friends help him realize his dream? I loved how Narwhal's view was drawn like he would see it through a fish bowl. Very creative!
Narwhal wants to see the world. Can his friends help him realize his dream? I loved how Narwhal's view was drawn like he would see it through a fish bowl. Very creative!
October 18, 2020
The tiny narwahl in the fishbowl from "Strictly No Elephants" gets its own story.
The narwahl feels like living in a fishbowl is limiting. So the kids take it for a walk. That's about it.
"Strictly No Elephants" is one of my favorites. This one is ... less so.
The narwahl feels like living in a fishbowl is limiting. So the kids take it for a walk. That's about it.
"Strictly No Elephants" is one of my favorites. This one is ... less so.
October 9, 2021
“ ... little narwhals who live in fishbowls have a lot of dreams.”
Narwhal is not sure she will ever see the world (she has no feet, she doesn’t know street names and ... what if it’s cold?) But with the help of her friends, he dream comes true.
Narwhal is not sure she will ever see the world (she has no feet, she doesn’t know street names and ... what if it’s cold?) But with the help of her friends, he dream comes true.
December 4, 2022
Super cute and fun visually. I was having fun reading and then it abruptly and suddenly ended in such a disappointing manner. There would have been 4 or 5 stars, but the ending was too abrupt and that turned me off a little bit
October 24, 2017
Adorable. :-)
November 19, 2017
The ending seemed a bit abrupt.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews