Heartbeat

by Evan Turk

This cinematic picture book from critically acclaimed author and illustrator Evan Turk follows the life of a baby whale from birth, to song, to silence, to a new song of compassion and hope for a brighter future.Two hearts, one song.A young whale and her mother sing together.Heartbeat.Then the mother is gone.One heart, one song.The young whale swims, alone and lonely,for days and years and decades…until one day a little girl hears her and joins her song.Together, they sing of hope for a brighter future.One world, one song,one heartbeat.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Environment, Historical Fiction, Nature, Death

40 pages, ebook

Published June 12, 2018

About the author

Evan Turk is an award-winning illustrator, author and animator living in Riverside, California, with his husband, Chris, and two cats, Pica and Bert. A graduate of Parsons: The New School for Design, his illustration and animation have been shown all over the world. He grew up in Colorado and loves nature and being outdoors. He continues his studies with Dalvero Academy, a private illustration school in New York City. Evan loves to travel all over the world and learn about other people and places through drawing and the interactions that come from it.

Evan speaks to kids and adults across the country and loves talking with them about storytelling and making art.

Reviews

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read the Author's Notes at the end of the book before I fully understood the message in this book. It's about a baby whale whose mother dies during a whale hunt. The calf lives as one heartbeat until years later a little girl's heartbeat joins in unison with the calf's heartbeat. Soon the passengers on the sightseeing ship join in and sing the whale song. The book ends with the message: One world, one song, one heartbeat. I would suggest reading this book first before sharing it with your child.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the share and recommendation of friend, Pernille Ripp, I went to go get this book quickly. And, I am so glad that I did. This book would fit in the tradition of BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR for it's ability to be read aloud with the pacing of a heart beat. Evan Turk's illustration style is beautiful and thoughtful (don't miss the Author's Note on this one, older readers).

Take your time with this one and practice the pacing and the emotional stuff before reading to the room. I would love to try, this summer, to get a read-aloud of this book with ocean sounds, war sounds, and space sounds in the background before going live. In Room 407, we'll be pairing this book with Brian Doyle's essay, "Joyas Voladoras."

[Laura Giessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a whale calf who loses his mother to the whaling industry. The Author's Note is super-helpful in deciphering what is going on in the subsequent illustrations, depicting different ways that humans have used whales for their purposes through the decades. Such great art and a huge message; would need some adult preparation and interaction for the book to be understood, enjoyed, and received. Don't share this without reading it aloud first!

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and pointed artwork make this uniquely lovely book a real treasure! I loved that the artwork is blurry to reflect the whales' view of the world and more definite and angular to depict the priorities and visions of humans. If reading this title to a child, be prepared to have the "Oh-look!-Disney-has-a-mother-character-in-the-movie" conversation.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork in this book is gorgeous. As is the message of the transcendence of hope and responsibility to care for others and the earth we live on. Highly recommended.

[Cara Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Words fail me in describing this book. It is breathtaking in many ways, despite the irony of the heart beat/life force as the continuous thread throughout a metaphoric, free verse extended poem.

[Cecilia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a picture book for adults who love really deep, obscure poetry and art. And not really anyone else.

I found this book to be really pretentious for a picture book. The art was way too stylized and the wording way too vague. I could barely follow along with what was going along and I'm almost 30. How the heck is a child supposed to? I think this book should have been shelved in the nonfiction poetry section for adults. If I had gone into it with that mindset instead of expecting an artsy picture book, I might have enjoyed it more. :(

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new baby whale grows within her mother with one heartbeat strong and sure. She is born and together the mother and child sing songs in unison until a whaling vessel surrounds them with harpoons. Tragedy ensues and an expansive look at the many ways whale products have advanced mankind is shown in picture after picture. Then a little girl's heart begins to beat in tune with the whale's and the harmony of life throughout the universe begins to heal and the missing beat begins anew.

Heart felt. Heart wrenching. Heartbeat. From the beauty of new life to the tragedy of life taken, this book is an ocean of emotion. Beautifully illustrated with text artfully incorporated into the images so that they blend seamlessly into one voice that mirrors the books message of unity and life. The death of the mother whale and the images of the harpoons are not bloody but are jarring so little ones may need some conversation about the images to process what is happening. The beauty of the message and how it so well conveyed make this book a must read.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a book that captured my eye at our local library book sale since of the beauty of the colored photographs and the promise of what type of book it may be. As a result I chose to read through it to really see if it was something that I wanted to bring home with me and add to my collection while I am sure glad that I did so.

First of all Heartbeat starts off exploring the relationship of a whale in the ocean with its heartbeat while the reader is then soon introduced to the fact that it is a female with calf thus meaning there are two heartbeats. Soon after the reader explores the calf's arrival into the world. And then there is a clash of white that takes up the page while throwing the reader into confusion as to what is going on but only for a minute.

Unfortunately for those who are into history it doesn't take much to know what happened when you turn the page since there are candles in the form of the lower half of a whale lighting up the world. This is then followed by other aspects that remind readers of the components that have used whale products since whaling was in fashion and the ghostly aspect of a whale floating around without a heart.

The illustrations are brightly colored but a bit on the abstract side for the most part. There are aspects that are made to help the reader to connect the various parts of the story such as the ghostly whale, the above mentioned candles and even missiles like the candles. But even with the hope that is added at the end of the story and repeating the macabre portions of the story with a different type of light after a century I just couldn't get into this once it turned to the dark side.

In the end I would recommend this as an adult book rather than as a child's book due to its graphic nature and nightmarish tone. Then again, though, I am also not quite sure how many adults would actually want to read a photo book with minimal words either.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interest Level: K-3

What if you and your mom share one heartbeat, then you are born and now there are two heartbeats, and then tragedy strikes and you are back to one heartbeat? Baby whale is so happy with it's mom until disaster strikes and she is taken away. Baby whale is so lonely for so long until a little girl on a ship connects with the baby whale and things become alright again. Read this heartwarming story of love, loss, and hope.

This is a very sad yet sweet story to read. I would suggest reading the author's note before reading the book aloud. This book is also fantastic for older students to read and research.

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[Fromwordstoworlds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sounding like a lullaby, in few, melodic words, Heartbeat covers 200 years, telling the story of a whale witnessing the brutality of industrial whaling.

We open the book to see a soft, crimson spot of colour: a heart beating. It is the heart of a whale. The next page will illustrate a baby’s heart visible in the whale’s body: “Two hearts beat”.

Once born, the calf will sing the mother’s song, learning to discover the ocean and to communicate. But their harmony will soon be pierced by a harpoon, the mother killed by human hunters.

Commercial whaling was one of the biggest American industries in the 19th century. Whales were savagely killed in huge numbers, being used for their meat, oil, baleen.

Read the full review on blog:
https://fromwordstoworlds.wordpress.c...

[Kristen Lango · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan Turk does it again 😍 this book is lovely and brilliant. It does feel like it is maybe a bit more for adults than kids but maybe that's the ugly side of me showing up with the misconception that kids couldn't wrap their minds around this story as easily. I don't know, maybe they can. But I don't know if this is a book for truly young children. Probably not for the 3 and 4 year olds but more for 6 and up.
Anyway, the art is so beautiful and I loved the author statement at the end that explains why they used pastel for the nature scenes and hard edge paper cut collage for the human elements of the rest.
Whenever artists can connect why they've chosen a certain media to illustrate a story and relate it back to the meaning of what is happening in the book, I think that's the mark of a truly great illustrator. One who is intentional and really considering what they put out into the world and how that matters and will inevitably have an effect on young developing minds.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early this morning looking up and out the large sliding glass door to the backyard, the sight of two tiny fawns with two adults left me breathless. The color of their coats against the green is striking this time of year. The older deer were enjoying the sweet taste of fresh grass tinged with morning dew. Scampering and eating, oblivious to any possible danger, the little ones were marvelous to watch.


The wild reminds us multiple times each day of their closeness to us. It is a welcome reminder. It is a necessary reminder. We share this planet and there is a place for every living thing on it. Heartbeat (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, June 12, 2018) written and illustrated by Evan Turk tells us about two voices and a single song.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Debrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very affecting. The watery warmth of the whale mama/calf bond is felt viscerally by the reader, as is the sudden stabbing shock of its interruption. Interesting how the red of the heartbeat warms up the blue colors of water, making it feel mammalian and familiar.
The flowing lines of water and song and heartbeat create a successful thread of continuity and embrace throughout the book. The softer edges underwater and more definite lines in the air convey difference of experience, and it's exciting when the calf breaches into the air and becomes so starkly visible.
Without as much historical knowledge, would kids understand the historical montages? I'm curious to find out. 
Read for Mock Caldecott.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book due to a parent complaint—they attempted to read this as a bedtime story and were then traumatized by the whales getting killed with harpoons and made into candles. The book however, tells of the baby whale being alone and lonely in the summary, so there is a hint of what’s to come. The illustrations are gorgeous and the concept is brave, but it’s a hard sell for the audience that would most likely grab the book on their own.

For: fans of picture books; readers wanting a picture book with a complicated topic.

Possible red flags: character peril; death of a parent; violence and violent images.

[Ashley Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This conceptual piece by Evan Turk, Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor winner, is not just a book for children. Evan Turk demonstrates the profound effect human industry has on the environment. This book acknowledges the brutality and shocking effect of the whaling industry as well as the advancement of humanity through whaling byproducts. There's even a shout-out to the golden record aboard the Voyager.

The larger theme of this piece is the interconnectedness of humanity and environment. When a child feels the heartbeat of a whale as a beacon to her own song, the environmental message can resonate with a larger audience. Environmental education can have a cosmic impact!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two hearts, one song>One heart, one song> One world, one song.
Evan Turk takes us on a journey with a young whale whose mother is killed by whalers, and through incredible illustrations shows us 200 years of ways in which humans have used whales to advance our lives. But gradually our attitudes towards whales existences is shifting from harvesting to coexisting. The illustrations will stir your heart, and the story (including Author's Note) will stimulate your mind. Turk is the recipient of the 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Award for new illustrators. You'll see why with this book.

[Taj Edgren · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beautiful illustrations caught my attention at the library and I didn’t bother reading beyond the first few pages until reading it with the kids. What I thought would be a book about a parent-child bond turned out to be something entirely different. I might have appreciated the message more had I been expecting it, but compared to my expectation we were shocked and alarmed by the turn in the whales’ story. Neither of my kids has asked to read it again.

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really beautiful illustrations, and the sentiment/message is lovely and important. I think that the message of it is a bit subtle in the fact that adults are needed to draw the conclusions. And the author's note is vital to understanding the connections and the meaning. The limited narrative is nice for allowing reader's to draw interpretations and conclusions, expand and create their own meanings.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not written as poetry, but the soft, sweet, sadness of the story reads like one. It's 'heart breaking' to be reminded of what people are capable of (whaling). The sweetness comes from the healing. This book touches on so many deep themes. The important part, and what children might naturally be drawn to, is recognizing we can change our habits, embrace our compassion, and heal what needs to be healed.

I loved it. Congratulations to Evan Turk on this beautiful story.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

3/22/2020 ~ Utterly stunning - this is a text that will be read and understood at many levels by readers of many ages and experience levels.

It could be fascinating to "read" the illustrations an discuss inferences made from those pictures. This text could also invite powerful writing in response to reading. Only later and after discussion would I suggest reading the author/illustrator's notes about the story the text tells.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are stunning and boldly colorful in this title and very symbolic of the whaling industry. I would give five stars for the wonderful interruptive paintings of this title. However, this title is a three star for me as the entire theme will be obtuse to the picture book age group. This is sophisticated art with sparse text. The audience is adults and publishers need to take the bold step and market this type of title to adults.

[Alida · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure it was to read this one. The illustrations are so soft, the feel of the paper, the embossing of the title on the cover, the riot of color, the simplicity of words, the timelessness and relevance of the message. Well done Mr. Evan. I like books where the art and the message are a perfect partnership and this book is a wonderful example of it.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are gorgeous; the intent is good; however, it took me a minute to figure out what the heck was going on, and I don’t think there is any way that a child will understand it without the author’s explanation at the back. Hint: if you have to completely explain what you are telling a story about in the back of the book, maybe you didn’t tell the story well enough.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great example of the need for reading books prior to sharing them with students. This must be read ahead of time, especially the author's note at the end, so the shared reading can then be followed by good discussion.

[Alison Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if this book is actually for kids, but it gave 30-year-old me chills and made me cry. I LOVED IT! The artwork, the message, all of it! Reading the author's note made it all even more stunning.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of a whale calf being abandoned due to his mother being captured by whalers. The calf's search takes it on an endless journey depicted through the evolution of industry until a long last he hears a common sound and a familiar heartbeat.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually stunning. Excellent, sophisticated storytelling. Good for anyone interested introducing kids (let’s say six and up) to environmental issues, especially given its sensitivity and nuance.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about the important connections between people and animals.