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Little Whale
Told through the eyes of a whale and her calf, this mesmerisingly beautiful book is a story of migration, family and the strength of parental love. And a celebration of the wonders of nature."We're going on a long journey, Little Whale," sang her mother. "We're going home."Travelling from the warm weather of the south, through fragile coral reefs, kelp forests and glittering shoals of fish, Little Whale follows her mother to the icy north. With her mother guiding and protecting her all the way home.With atmospheric charcoal drawings and gentle, lyrical storytelling, Little Whale is perfect for sharing with your little one."Evocative charcoal drawings bring the underwater world to stunning life; fans of Blue Planet will be mesmerised." The BooksellerAlso by Jo Little One, Little Tigers
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2018
3 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Jo Weaver
12 books13 followersHello! I am an illustrator and picture book maker.
I work mostly by hand using willow charcoal and a putty rubber.
I live and work on the east coast of Scotland with my young family and an ever expanding brood of chickens. When not at my drawing board I can often be found wandering the wild and windy beaches near our home.
I was lucky enough to complete an MA in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art (ARU) in 2015 - a course I would highly recommend to any aspiring illustrator/storyteller. My books have since been translated into six languages for publishers including:
Hodder Children's Books (Hachette UK)
Oxford University Press (UK)
Walker Books (UK)
Kaleidoscope (France)
Orecchio Acerbo Editore (Italy)
Peach Tree (USA)
Eerdlings (USA)
Ars Edition (Germany)
Jei Publishing (Korea)
AWARDS
CILIP Greenaway Medal 2018, nominated (A Story Like The Wind)
Award Nati per Leggere 2017, winner (Little One)
CILIP Greenaway Medal 2017, long-listed (Little One)
Klaus Flugge Award 2017, long-listed (Little One)
"Read It Again!" Cambridgeshire Children's Book Award 2017, shortlisted (Little One)
AOI Illustration New Talent Awards 2014, shortlisted.
I work mostly by hand using willow charcoal and a putty rubber.
I live and work on the east coast of Scotland with my young family and an ever expanding brood of chickens. When not at my drawing board I can often be found wandering the wild and windy beaches near our home.
I was lucky enough to complete an MA in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art (ARU) in 2015 - a course I would highly recommend to any aspiring illustrator/storyteller. My books have since been translated into six languages for publishers including:
Hodder Children's Books (Hachette UK)
Oxford University Press (UK)
Walker Books (UK)
Kaleidoscope (France)
Orecchio Acerbo Editore (Italy)
Peach Tree (USA)
Eerdlings (USA)
Ars Edition (Germany)
Jei Publishing (Korea)
AWARDS
CILIP Greenaway Medal 2018, nominated (A Story Like The Wind)
Award Nati per Leggere 2017, winner (Little One)
CILIP Greenaway Medal 2017, long-listed (Little One)
Klaus Flugge Award 2017, long-listed (Little One)
"Read It Again!" Cambridgeshire Children's Book Award 2017, shortlisted (Little One)
AOI Illustration New Talent Awards 2014, shortlisted.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 21, 2018
Little Gray Whale and his devoted mother are making a long, and occasionally perilous journey, traveling thousands of miles, to their home in the north. Little Whale has never been there, so this one gives new meaning to "Are we there yet?"
Beautiful, monochromatic illustrations by the author.
Beautiful, monochromatic illustrations by the author.
April 13, 2022
A reassuring story with superb illustrations
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March 6, 2018RTC.
The illustrations here are beautiful, but the story itself is a little flat, uninspired, and lacking any kind of engagement for readers.
So... 9/10 for illustrations, maybe 5/10 for the story/writing?
The illustrations here are beautiful, but the story itself is a little flat, uninspired, and lacking any kind of engagement for readers.
So... 9/10 for illustrations, maybe 5/10 for the story/writing?
February 14, 2019
Beautiful. Nothing more need be said.
April 1, 2018
“Is this home?” asked Little Whale. “No, we’ve still got a long way to go,” said Grey Whale.
Deep blue ocean, gentle waves rocking and peacefulness oozes out of this book.
Little Whale, written and illustrated by Jo Weaver, is a beautifully told story about a baby whale and the journey north it is taking with its mother.
Grey Whales migrate nearly 20 000 km on a yearly basis as they move back and forth between the cool and warm waters in order to find food and safety.
As we see and read about this migration we watch the baby tire, the dangers lurking in the depths and the beauty of the sea forest below.
The role of the mother whale is so important for her baby’s survival and despite the length they have to travel, albeit a little bit slower than she would normally take, she still sticks by her child ensuring they make it safely to the north.
As you read this story you will find yourself slow down.
The journey of a mother with her calf is a slow and careful one and the way Jo Weaver has told this story ensures we understand how long that journey is.
The illustrations in Little Whale are created in charcoal and really add to the atmosphere of the water. The gentle sketches of the water ebbing and flowing, sea grass swaying and fish circling give off a peaceful sense of life at sea.
Little Whale is a gorgeous story about the migration of whales, the love of parents and life living in the ocean.
It would be a great book to springboard into life cycles, animal studies of migration, animal conservation and ocean awareness.
Deep blue ocean, gentle waves rocking and peacefulness oozes out of this book.
Little Whale, written and illustrated by Jo Weaver, is a beautifully told story about a baby whale and the journey north it is taking with its mother.
Grey Whales migrate nearly 20 000 km on a yearly basis as they move back and forth between the cool and warm waters in order to find food and safety.
As we see and read about this migration we watch the baby tire, the dangers lurking in the depths and the beauty of the sea forest below.
The role of the mother whale is so important for her baby’s survival and despite the length they have to travel, albeit a little bit slower than she would normally take, she still sticks by her child ensuring they make it safely to the north.
As you read this story you will find yourself slow down.
The journey of a mother with her calf is a slow and careful one and the way Jo Weaver has told this story ensures we understand how long that journey is.
The illustrations in Little Whale are created in charcoal and really add to the atmosphere of the water. The gentle sketches of the water ebbing and flowing, sea grass swaying and fish circling give off a peaceful sense of life at sea.
Little Whale is a gorgeous story about the migration of whales, the love of parents and life living in the ocean.
It would be a great book to springboard into life cycles, animal studies of migration, animal conservation and ocean awareness.
July 22, 2018
I loved the combination of a feel-good message about family & mothers mixed with the nonfiction aspect of whale migration. Oh, and the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL!!!! (Make sure to notice the tone in the final spread!)
November 7, 2018
Gorgeous illustration, as always! A heartwarming mother-child connection makes this one extra special to me.
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January 2, 2019Beautiful illustrations capture the journey of a gray whale and her baby whale as they migrate north.
April 3, 2019
3.5 stars. An extra star for the lovely illustrations.
July 9, 2023
Solid read-aloud book. Loved the promotion of a good sleep schedule.
August 21, 2018
Oh I love this. I am the first to admit that when it comes to books about whales I may be a bit of a softy, but this is beautiful. This is the story of a Gray Whale and her baby migrating North. Gray Whales are known for having the longest annual migration of any animals and the fact that a whale and her new baby do this together is fascinating and impressive. This story has brief text that could be shared with younger kids, but also depth and beauty that older children would appreciate as well. A powerful story about parental love, perseverance, and these incredible animals.
Note: I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
Note: I received a copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 13, 2019
"I gave it five stars because at times it was sad, probably the saddest bit was when the baby whale got really tired and the killer whales tried to eat the baby whale and the mummy whale had the baby whale on her back. At the end they were swimming in just deep deep deep blue sea. Everybody wants their story to end happily ever after. I don't know why the killer whales are trying to kill the baby one. The illustrations are very good but if they were in colour it would be a step to far but people would still thoroughly enjoy the book. The black and white doesn't affect it that much because they are still really really detailed and the description helps you see it in your head"
"Because there is whales and fish. It looks pretty. Just everything about the book. Even the name, it's a bit mysterious, whats gonna happen. It doesn't have THE little whale. It just sounds bold"
"I like the name. The only thing that I would change to it was if you took away the world little and just put The Adventures of baby whale. And the detail of them, it's just so cool. And all the sea creatures and stuff, it's just really cool. When you look under them you can actually see black and that's the shadows. You don't need a lot of pictures. It just makes it more interesting. Colours get a bit boring. In the night all that colour makes sense. I like the splash of when the whale jumped out the water. If you look carefully you can see water dripping off a fin which is cool. I just have something good about every page. The back of the whale makes it look like a really sad story but then it isn't. I would love a stencil of that boat. It makes the book more effective when it's black and white not like every single colour. In a children's books Orcas aren't bad animals but then they actually are in here. At the back there are some good facts about grey whales like about how they migrate too"
"Because there is whales and fish. It looks pretty. Just everything about the book. Even the name, it's a bit mysterious, whats gonna happen. It doesn't have THE little whale. It just sounds bold"
"I like the name. The only thing that I would change to it was if you took away the world little and just put The Adventures of baby whale. And the detail of them, it's just so cool. And all the sea creatures and stuff, it's just really cool. When you look under them you can actually see black and that's the shadows. You don't need a lot of pictures. It just makes it more interesting. Colours get a bit boring. In the night all that colour makes sense. I like the splash of when the whale jumped out the water. If you look carefully you can see water dripping off a fin which is cool. I just have something good about every page. The back of the whale makes it look like a really sad story but then it isn't. I would love a stencil of that boat. It makes the book more effective when it's black and white not like every single colour. In a children's books Orcas aren't bad animals but then they actually are in here. At the back there are some good facts about grey whales like about how they migrate too"
June 10, 2025
Grey Whale leads Little Whale north in this quietly appealing picture book from British author/illustrator Jo Weaver. The pair swim through the vast ocean, with Little Whale observing the watery world around them and wondering what "home" will be like. As the water grows steadily colder, and they must outswim orcas, mother and child work hard to reach their destination, and their reunion with their larger family...
Published in 2018, Little Whale was Weaver's second picture book, following upon her 2016 debut, Little One . Like that earlier title, it follows a mother-child duo in the natural world—bears in the earlier book, and grey whales here—and emphasizes the relationship between the two. There is a scientific basis to the story—in her very brief comments on the colophon, Weaver mentions the grey whale's 12,400-mile annual migration, upon which the narrative is based—but the focus is as much on the maternal bond as anything else, with Little Whale finding reassurance and safety with Grey Whale. The accompanying artwork, done in charcoal, has a lovely textured feeling, and a limited color palette that ably captures the feeling of being in a twilight underwater world. Although I found the visuals here lovely, I confess to be a smidgeon disappointed, given the more colorful cover, in the lack of color in the interior artwork. That said, on the whole I think the illustrations did capture the feeling of being in a watery world very well. After all, water may look blue from the land, but undoubtedly doesn't from the sea, especially the northern sea. Recommended as a bedtime book for younger whale lovers, perhaps four and under.
Published in 2018, Little Whale was Weaver's second picture book, following upon her 2016 debut, Little One . Like that earlier title, it follows a mother-child duo in the natural world—bears in the earlier book, and grey whales here—and emphasizes the relationship between the two. There is a scientific basis to the story—in her very brief comments on the colophon, Weaver mentions the grey whale's 12,400-mile annual migration, upon which the narrative is based—but the focus is as much on the maternal bond as anything else, with Little Whale finding reassurance and safety with Grey Whale. The accompanying artwork, done in charcoal, has a lovely textured feeling, and a limited color palette that ably captures the feeling of being in a twilight underwater world. Although I found the visuals here lovely, I confess to be a smidgeon disappointed, given the more colorful cover, in the lack of color in the interior artwork. That said, on the whole I think the illustrations did capture the feeling of being in a watery world very well. After all, water may look blue from the land, but undoubtedly doesn't from the sea, especially the northern sea. Recommended as a bedtime book for younger whale lovers, perhaps four and under.
November 7, 2018
I think the illustrations in this novel are fantastic. With the different shades of blue and white blanketing the pages, they create this dreamy and whimsical feeling to this children’s book. The large text is then set-off in these same identical colors which adds to this tranquil setting. It’s a sweet book about the long journey that a mother gray whale undertakes to get her baby to the cool Northern waters in spring.
Baby gray whales make this journey alone with their mothers every year and the gray whales in this book, show us how difficult and long this journey actually is. As Little Whale leaves the warm waters of the south, he questions his mother where they are headed. She tells him that they are beginning a long journey home. It truly is a long journey for Little Whale but Gray Whale is there, right beside her baby. Along the way, we see/read about how difficult the journey is for Little Whale.
What bothered me a bit about this book was that the mother was called Gray Whale in this book and not mother or Mother, Gray Whale. I knew she was the mother because of a note in the back of the book about migration and mother and calves. Also, in the text it states, “Gray Whale led her baby…” I just thought that was different and it bothered me a bit.
I thought this was a cute book, a marvelous story of the bond between a mother and her child. I really enjoyed Jo Weaver’s Little One children book also. 4.5 stars
Baby gray whales make this journey alone with their mothers every year and the gray whales in this book, show us how difficult and long this journey actually is. As Little Whale leaves the warm waters of the south, he questions his mother where they are headed. She tells him that they are beginning a long journey home. It truly is a long journey for Little Whale but Gray Whale is there, right beside her baby. Along the way, we see/read about how difficult the journey is for Little Whale.
What bothered me a bit about this book was that the mother was called Gray Whale in this book and not mother or Mother, Gray Whale. I knew she was the mother because of a note in the back of the book about migration and mother and calves. Also, in the text it states, “Gray Whale led her baby…” I just thought that was different and it bothered me a bit.
I thought this was a cute book, a marvelous story of the bond between a mother and her child. I really enjoyed Jo Weaver’s Little One children book also. 4.5 stars
March 15, 2018
Gray whales have the longest migration known for a mammal. They travel almost 20,000 km every year, from south where they breed to the Arctic seas to reach their feeding grounds. It is a long, dangerous, exhausting journey, so beautifully captured by Jo Weaver in Little Whale.
Magnificent creatures, the grey whales find themselves weak and exposed during their travel when they need to resist the vastness of the ocean and the threat of ships and orcas.
Created as a dialogue between a mother and her young, innocent calf, the story follows the two during their migration. The concept of home is not yet very well understood by the young whale who believes that every good-looking space might be a place to settle.
A great forest beneath them drifted with the tide.
“What’s home?” wondered Little Whale. “Maybe this is it?”
But Grey Whale guided her forward.
The travel is an opportunity for the little whale to discover the diversity of the ocean and to meet new creatures.
"Together they travelled mile after mile under vast midnight skies. Through seas that shimmered and danced."
See full review on blog:
https://fromwordstoworlds.wordpress.c...
Magnificent creatures, the grey whales find themselves weak and exposed during their travel when they need to resist the vastness of the ocean and the threat of ships and orcas.
Created as a dialogue between a mother and her young, innocent calf, the story follows the two during their migration. The concept of home is not yet very well understood by the young whale who believes that every good-looking space might be a place to settle.
A great forest beneath them drifted with the tide.
“What’s home?” wondered Little Whale. “Maybe this is it?”
But Grey Whale guided her forward.
The travel is an opportunity for the little whale to discover the diversity of the ocean and to meet new creatures.
"Together they travelled mile after mile under vast midnight skies. Through seas that shimmered and danced."
See full review on blog:
https://fromwordstoworlds.wordpress.c...
February 15, 2019
A gray whale and her calf leave the warm waters of its birth on a long journey to join the rest of their family in the cold waters of the north where they will feed. Along the 12,000 mile journey, the calf will see many new things like the abundant ocean life of the warmer waters and the fierce orca’s predatory threat as little whale uses all of its remaining strength to finish its long journey.
A simple storyline will enthrall even the youngest child as they realize that not only human babies have trouble with waiting a long time for something. The charcoal illustrations and blue color scheme allows the reader to really feel like they have an underwater view of the journey. A short author’s note fills in some more factual information on the gray whale’s migration as the story features the journey from the calf’s perspective. Young children will delight in this picture book about the natural world.
I would recommend this book for purchase by any school of public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
A simple storyline will enthrall even the youngest child as they realize that not only human babies have trouble with waiting a long time for something. The charcoal illustrations and blue color scheme allows the reader to really feel like they have an underwater view of the journey. A short author’s note fills in some more factual information on the gray whale’s migration as the story features the journey from the calf’s perspective. Young children will delight in this picture book about the natural world.
I would recommend this book for purchase by any school of public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
January 11, 2019
Little Whale by Jo Weaver. PICTURE BOOK. Peachtree, 2018. $18. 9781682630495
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
This monochromatic book follows a mom and baby whale as they journey north on their annual migration. The whales have sporadic dialogue about their journey and the text describes all the things they pass. Just as little whale insists he is too tired to go on, they find their family and their home in the North.
This book is very soothing and a lovely depiction of a migration journey. This gentle pace, however, may be difficult for young readers to enjoy. The lone blue coloring of the illustrations is also a mature aesthetic and may not be appreciated by the younger readers.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
This monochromatic book follows a mom and baby whale as they journey north on their annual migration. The whales have sporadic dialogue about their journey and the text describes all the things they pass. Just as little whale insists he is too tired to go on, they find their family and their home in the North.
This book is very soothing and a lovely depiction of a migration journey. This gentle pace, however, may be difficult for young readers to enjoy. The lone blue coloring of the illustrations is also a mature aesthetic and may not be appreciated by the younger readers.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
January 24, 2019
What a missed opportunity!
Anthropomorphic gray whale mother and child fail to touch on any of the important aspects of gray while migration, reproduction, eating/nursing, or family/social interactions.
It does mention how noisy boats are! It suggests that a wide open ocean would make a whale feel lonely and small. I found that to be one obvious preposterous over-reach, among many projections of human emotions onto whales.
The images were evocative - but they seemed to intentionally evoke coldness and loneliness, although whales probably don't associate a similar level of wariness, fear, or lack of comfort with those qualities.
Anthropomorphic gray whale mother and child fail to touch on any of the important aspects of gray while migration, reproduction, eating/nursing, or family/social interactions.
It does mention how noisy boats are! It suggests that a wide open ocean would make a whale feel lonely and small. I found that to be one obvious preposterous over-reach, among many projections of human emotions onto whales.
The images were evocative - but they seemed to intentionally evoke coldness and loneliness, although whales probably don't associate a similar level of wariness, fear, or lack of comfort with those qualities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2019
I've been reading this book to groups of primary students this week. They were completely captivated. I wish the book had a map showing these whales migration route. I ended up pulling out a map to show the distance these animals travel. I don't think they really understand how far this is, but they were still impressed, especially those who had been to Mexico themselves! The other thing we talked about was what was true and what might be fiction. Kindergarten, grade one and grade two are very clever!
April 6, 2018
There are quite a few journey home, mother and infant animal books around but this one really brought a lump to my throat. It is a simple story, beautifully told and supported by exquisite, floaty illustrations that draw you into a vast, seemingly endlessness ocean in which you feel safe and nurtured by the massive, gentle mother whale.
A restful, dreamlike story which would make a calming bedtime read for sleepy toddlers.
A restful, dreamlike story which would make a calming bedtime read for sleepy toddlers.
May 28, 2019
Little Whale, by Jo Weaver, is a very sweet book about the great springtime whale migration to their northern feeding grounds as undertaken by Gray Whale and Little Whale, her newborn. Weaver’s prose describes their determination, Little Whale’s fear, and their ultimate relief upon arrival. Weaver’s handsome illustrations in monochromatic blue-grey hues capture the sense of the ocean’s frigid depths.
September 8, 2025
A mom and baby gray whale make their way alone in the wide ocean from the southern ocean to the northern ocean. The baby keeps asking, 'Is this home?' It's a big ocean with many dangers. What a big journey to start life having to make.
The artwork is all charcoal. It's black white and grey, and really beautiful. I could have used more color, but it was so well done.
It's a bit slow, but kids who enjoy whales will like this big story.
The artwork is all charcoal. It's black white and grey, and really beautiful. I could have used more color, but it was so well done.
It's a bit slow, but kids who enjoy whales will like this big story.
August 30, 2019
This was a lovely tale, I liked that the last page had a couple of sentences of factual information about Whale migration.
The artwork was stunning. It looked like it was done with pen, and the two tones of blue and white.
If this does not make nominations at least for picture book awards I would be very surprised.
The artwork was stunning. It looked like it was done with pen, and the two tones of blue and white.
If this does not make nominations at least for picture book awards I would be very surprised.
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February 27, 2024Les illustrations en bleu et blanc nous invitent � suivre le p�riple d'une petite baleine et sa maman � travers l'oc�an immense, � la recherche de leurs cong�n�res.Le style des dessins se pr�te parfaitement � l'univers marin, la mise en page est impeccable et les textes sont courts et simples. L'ensemble est po�tique � souhait !
August 31, 2025
With illustrations rendered in charcoal one gets the feeling you are underwater on this journey with grey whale and her calf to their home in the north. Of course the young one asks repeatedly when will they be home. As a whale lover I enjoyed the story, but given the darkness of the illustrations young children may not engage with this slow quiet story.
July 19, 2018
Illustrations in midnight blue, gray, and white taking readers on a journey with Little Whale on Gray Whale as they migrate. A quiet, peaceful story about going home. Gray Whale leads Little Whale on this long trip with love and care, and readers see some lovely sights along the way.
October 17, 2018
These illustrations are so soft and beautiful, and I love the color palette. The story puts into perspective for children the epic scope of the 12,400-mile journey Gray whales make each year to breed and feed. Well done!
October 23, 2018
Gorgeous monochrome illustrations depict a story of family, perseverance, and nurturing. A sweet way to teach children that home is not always a specific place, but rather where your loved ones are.
Illustrations 5/5
Text 3/5
Illustrations 5/5
Text 3/5
November 19, 2018
The story of a little gray whale who follows his mother on a journey to their home in the north.
The journey is long and arduous, filled with new sights, and sounds, but Little Whale, and his mother finally complete their journey to join the rest of the family,
The journey is long and arduous, filled with new sights, and sounds, but Little Whale, and his mother finally complete their journey to join the rest of the family,
December 6, 2018
The book follows the migration of a grey whale and her calf, and a lot of the text amounts to "are we there yet?" The illustrations, however, are astonishing in their richness -- have perfectly captured a vision of being underwater. The limited palate is extraordinarily effective.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews