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Ida and the Whale
What lies behind the sun, the moon, and the stars?
Ida can’t stop thinking about these and other very important questions. Then one night, a flying whale wakes her and takes her on an amazing journey—where some of her questions are answered and even more created.
This gentle, philosophical tale is a visual treat sure to fill curious little listeners with wonder.
Ida can’t stop thinking about these and other very important questions. Then one night, a flying whale wakes her and takes her on an amazing journey—where some of her questions are answered and even more created.
This gentle, philosophical tale is a visual treat sure to fill curious little listeners with wonder.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 26, 2019
4 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
April 5, 2019
The beautiful art makes this stand out. The story is a little abstract, more like a dream than anything coherent. The flying whale seems cool though.
March 21, 2020
I love books that feel like dreams or ‘Alice in Wonderland’ where everything is upside down. It challenges the brain in a good way, I feel.
This lovely book starts off with a girl in her treehouse. I think she is dreaming, but it could be real too. She is awoken by her house trembling and when she looks out her window, there is a giant whale floating there talking to her. They go on an adventure through the cosmos exploring the weird parts of life like an upside down world. The artwork is amazing and the story is told in verse. Everything about this book, I simply love. It’s for me.
The nephew thought it so weird that the whale was flying in the air. He has seen it in books before, but he also thought it a cool weird. He enjoys all the weird things that happen and the strange creatures. He would want to meet an octopus from the sea if he could meet something. He gave this book 3 stars and he said it was at least interesting and not boring.
This lovely book starts off with a girl in her treehouse. I think she is dreaming, but it could be real too. She is awoken by her house trembling and when she looks out her window, there is a giant whale floating there talking to her. They go on an adventure through the cosmos exploring the weird parts of life like an upside down world. The artwork is amazing and the story is told in verse. Everything about this book, I simply love. It’s for me.
The nephew thought it so weird that the whale was flying in the air. He has seen it in books before, but he also thought it a cool weird. He enjoys all the weird things that happen and the strange creatures. He would want to meet an octopus from the sea if he could meet something. He gave this book 3 stars and he said it was at least interesting and not boring.
January 25, 2019
With its stunning watercolour illustrations, Ida and the whale will take you on a journey into a dreamy world of a child’s imagination.
Ida is a quiet and curious child. She often sits outside her birch tree house and wonders if there is anything beyond the sun, the moon and the stars. One night she dreams of a giant flying whale that invites her to go on a special adventure. Ida and the whale talk about many things, some ordinary, some special, and quickly become very good friends who are so comfortable with each other that they are not afraid ‘to share a silence’. After a violent storm, they get separated for a brief moment and Ida is engulfed in her loneliness (the illustrations render her emotions so beautifully, to the point of making the reader feel her despair). The whale comes back with a reassuring message of always being there for her.
Some readers might find the story a bit on the short side and not entirely logical, but, if you bear in mind that this is a dream, Ida’s journey becomes easier to understand.’ Sometimes you can only understand others if you stand on your head yourself’.
I think this is not a read aloud but more of a read-along-with-me book, as the child needs to see the pictures which make the book so special.
Thank you NetGalley and North South Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Ida is a quiet and curious child. She often sits outside her birch tree house and wonders if there is anything beyond the sun, the moon and the stars. One night she dreams of a giant flying whale that invites her to go on a special adventure. Ida and the whale talk about many things, some ordinary, some special, and quickly become very good friends who are so comfortable with each other that they are not afraid ‘to share a silence’. After a violent storm, they get separated for a brief moment and Ida is engulfed in her loneliness (the illustrations render her emotions so beautifully, to the point of making the reader feel her despair). The whale comes back with a reassuring message of always being there for her.
Some readers might find the story a bit on the short side and not entirely logical, but, if you bear in mind that this is a dream, Ida’s journey becomes easier to understand.’ Sometimes you can only understand others if you stand on your head yourself’.
I think this is not a read aloud but more of a read-along-with-me book, as the child needs to see the pictures which make the book so special.
Thank you NetGalley and North South Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
March 26, 2019
Ida and the Whale didn't quite do it for me. There wasn't a whole lot of story here.
We follow Ida, a young girl who lives in a tree house in the forest as she dreams (I think?) about a whale floating by her window and inviting her to come for a ride. The two set off on a strange journey before eventually returning Ida home.
Some of the illustrations were really stunning, but others were on the dark side or confusing. There was a lot of play with different perspectives in the book, and some of them almost made me feel a bit woozy.
Others just gave me an overwhelming sense of loneliness and almost despair.
I think this book will appeal to those who love to pore over tiny details on a page, but this is one I wouldn't want to have to read very often.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
We follow Ida, a young girl who lives in a tree house in the forest as she dreams (I think?) about a whale floating by her window and inviting her to come for a ride. The two set off on a strange journey before eventually returning Ida home.
Some of the illustrations were really stunning, but others were on the dark side or confusing. There was a lot of play with different perspectives in the book, and some of them almost made me feel a bit woozy.
Others just gave me an overwhelming sense of loneliness and almost despair.
I think this book will appeal to those who love to pore over tiny details on a page, but this is one I wouldn't want to have to read very often.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
December 22, 2018
Ida and the Whale by Rebecca Gugger is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. The story is beautiful! The art is delightful and fresh! I got lost in it! The story was very good too but the art makes the book! Wow! A little girl living in talk trees sees a whale swimming by and they go on an adventure! Yep, you read that right!
October 13, 2018
Utterly charming book of either a dream, or a real flying whale, who visits a girl one night, and takes her on an adventures.
The pictures of the world that the whales travels through is gorgeous. And the whale teaches Ida to see beyond what she is looking for.
Thanks to NEtgalley for making this book available for an honest Verviers.
The pictures of the world that the whales travels through is gorgeous. And the whale teaches Ida to see beyond what she is looking for.
Thanks to NEtgalley for making this book available for an honest Verviers.
March 26, 2019
I've been looking forward to cracking this one open and taking a peek. Sadly, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
The illustrations are beautiful. There's so much to look at! Ida, with her bright red hair and yellow boots, is cute, and the whale certainly is a presence. The pictures are really atmospheric, and help transport the reader along with Ida on her adventure.
Unfortunately, the story and writing are what let this one down. The plot is thin, and it all seems a bit too philosophical for a children's book. What is the point of this journey? Sure, Ida gets to find out what's beyond the sun, moon, and stars, but it's really just her imagination. I don't know if she really required a flying whale's visit to come to that conclusion.
The writing also seems a bit rough to me. Lots of it is clumped together; dialogue between Ida and her friend will be combined into one paragraph, making it kind awkward. I'm not sure how much of this is due to the fact that the book has been translated into English, but I still think it could've used some tweaking, just to neaten things up and make it flow a little better.
This book's strength is its pictures. The story needs to be stronger to be a good vehicle for the beautiful illustrations. I'd love to be able to rate this one higher, but I just can't. Check it out for the aesthetic, but don't expect much in the way of a good story.
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.
The illustrations are beautiful. There's so much to look at! Ida, with her bright red hair and yellow boots, is cute, and the whale certainly is a presence. The pictures are really atmospheric, and help transport the reader along with Ida on her adventure.
Unfortunately, the story and writing are what let this one down. The plot is thin, and it all seems a bit too philosophical for a children's book. What is the point of this journey? Sure, Ida gets to find out what's beyond the sun, moon, and stars, but it's really just her imagination. I don't know if she really required a flying whale's visit to come to that conclusion.
The writing also seems a bit rough to me. Lots of it is clumped together; dialogue between Ida and her friend will be combined into one paragraph, making it kind awkward. I'm not sure how much of this is due to the fact that the book has been translated into English, but I still think it could've used some tweaking, just to neaten things up and make it flow a little better.
This book's strength is its pictures. The story needs to be stronger to be a good vehicle for the beautiful illustrations. I'd love to be able to rate this one higher, but I just can't. Check it out for the aesthetic, but don't expect much in the way of a good story.
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.
October 10, 2018
Beautiful homage to the imagination of a child and the beauty of those crazy ideas and world building they can create in their heads. Good concept, crazy illustrations and a good story. Really loved this one!
December 18, 2018
Thanks to NorthSouth books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Initially, I was delighted while reading the story and looking at the gorgeous illustrations. I loved how the text on the page took different shapes and forms to help emphasize the point on that particular page. I think that demonstrates another aspect of creativity and a good way to illustrate the meaning of a word or phrase by making it visual. (I'm a visual learner so it's nice to see this.) Trying to read it from the perspective of my daughter, I think the book did a great job of capturing a small one's attention and keeping it. I liked the lessons it taught about taking in the beauty around you, that sometimes being quiet in another person's company is just as enjoyable as a conversation and that exploring your curiosities can be scary at times, but rewarding.
What left me feeling disappointed was that it wasn't long enough! I felt like Ida and the Whale were just hitting their stride on a great adventure and then it stopped. (Pretty abruptly in my opinion.)
Overall, my 18 month old daughter would love this, but I'm not sure what my nieces who are 4-8 would think. I can imagine them speeding through it and then moving on to the next thing. Not because of the subject matter lacking, but because the arc of the story seems to end abruptly. I do think this would make a nice addition to a child's library - I'm just not sure how long it could grow with them.
Initially, I was delighted while reading the story and looking at the gorgeous illustrations. I loved how the text on the page took different shapes and forms to help emphasize the point on that particular page. I think that demonstrates another aspect of creativity and a good way to illustrate the meaning of a word or phrase by making it visual. (I'm a visual learner so it's nice to see this.) Trying to read it from the perspective of my daughter, I think the book did a great job of capturing a small one's attention and keeping it. I liked the lessons it taught about taking in the beauty around you, that sometimes being quiet in another person's company is just as enjoyable as a conversation and that exploring your curiosities can be scary at times, but rewarding.
What left me feeling disappointed was that it wasn't long enough! I felt like Ida and the Whale were just hitting their stride on a great adventure and then it stopped. (Pretty abruptly in my opinion.)
Overall, my 18 month old daughter would love this, but I'm not sure what my nieces who are 4-8 would think. I can imagine them speeding through it and then moving on to the next thing. Not because of the subject matter lacking, but because the arc of the story seems to end abruptly. I do think this would make a nice addition to a child's library - I'm just not sure how long it could grow with them.
January 31, 2019
Ida and the Whale by Rebecca Gugger is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a child’s dream. This book's strength is its pictures. The soft colors with just the right amount of pop added to them were quite stunning. There is so much to look at on each page, but to me that was where it ended. The story itself was a bit of a letdown. Ida and the Whale has a wonderful premise, but unfortunately, the execution was not great. The plot was not as developed and I felt that it was a bit too philosophical for children to understand. The gist of this book seems to be use your imagination and Ida does that to see what is beyond the sun, moon, and stars, but there needs to be more to this book for me to recommend it to others. I seem to be in the minority with this opinion, so check it out for yourself and see what you think. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
November 26, 2021
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
The illustrations were lovely! I think Simon Röthlisberger did an amazing job bringing Rebecca Gugger's words to life. The story felt a little random and nonsensical, but there were a few memorable moments. The whale takes Ida on an incredible journey, and shares bits of wisdom along the way. "Some quicker, some slower, but all of us grow." I thought it was an enjoyable story that my children could understand and relate to. However, now my son wants a whale to show up at his window to take him on an adventure!
The illustrations were lovely! I think Simon Röthlisberger did an amazing job bringing Rebecca Gugger's words to life. The story felt a little random and nonsensical, but there were a few memorable moments. The whale takes Ida on an incredible journey, and shares bits of wisdom along the way. "Some quicker, some slower, but all of us grow." I thought it was an enjoyable story that my children could understand and relate to. However, now my son wants a whale to show up at his window to take him on an adventure!
November 10, 2018
This is a beautiful story about a girl and a flying whale. I like the illustrations very much but the story not so much. this kind of stories encourages imagination in children and adults alike.
December 16, 2018
This was one book that I thought looked interesting frmo the cover and had no idea the direction it was going to go. Intrigued yes, surpised a bit and captivated, not as much.
The story started off basically as much an esape realism story from the start, which meant to me there wasn't much of a leap from where it was to where it was going. Unlike "Where the Wild Things Are", the reader only relates via the mind and how it thinks.
As a result the trip is wondrous and almost a fantasy without being true fantasy. The reader explores concepts that may give them other points-of-view in real life if they are open to them and these are shown by changes to the fonts such as being upside-down, wavy, fading off, etc. If anything these were the parts of the reading that I looked forward to the most.
The actual writing itself was decent but didn't give much to the reader. It explained the concept of thinking and gave the reader a chance to understand a bit but at the same time it was a bit disjointed so ended up losing me just as much as I went forward.
The illustrations were unique but were similar to the writing. There was too much white space in some areas and in other areas the pictures filled the space completely. Some were also a bit too dark even to get a concept across.
The bright red hair of the main protagonist is what anchors the reader to the before and after event. Meanwhile small details will charm many who like the illustrations as when they are given there is nothing really to hold back the details.
My favorite illustration point, though, was the front and back which were decorated to look like the walls of the house. In the beginning there is only one display for the reader while the rest is an open wall and at the end it has been filled with other displays to remind the little girl of what she learned. Will she truly remember some of thes ideas when she is older, though, is another story altogether.
All in all I don't think that I would go out to buy the book for my collection since of my combined likes and dislikes of it. Instead I may borrow it from like a library or a website to read to a younger audience to help possibly lead a discussion about changing one's perspective but that would be about it.
***I received access to a copy of this book in exchange for a free review.***
The story started off basically as much an esape realism story from the start, which meant to me there wasn't much of a leap from where it was to where it was going. Unlike "Where the Wild Things Are", the reader only relates via the mind and how it thinks.
As a result the trip is wondrous and almost a fantasy without being true fantasy. The reader explores concepts that may give them other points-of-view in real life if they are open to them and these are shown by changes to the fonts such as being upside-down, wavy, fading off, etc. If anything these were the parts of the reading that I looked forward to the most.
The actual writing itself was decent but didn't give much to the reader. It explained the concept of thinking and gave the reader a chance to understand a bit but at the same time it was a bit disjointed so ended up losing me just as much as I went forward.
The illustrations were unique but were similar to the writing. There was too much white space in some areas and in other areas the pictures filled the space completely. Some were also a bit too dark even to get a concept across.
The bright red hair of the main protagonist is what anchors the reader to the before and after event. Meanwhile small details will charm many who like the illustrations as when they are given there is nothing really to hold back the details.
My favorite illustration point, though, was the front and back which were decorated to look like the walls of the house. In the beginning there is only one display for the reader while the rest is an open wall and at the end it has been filled with other displays to remind the little girl of what she learned. Will she truly remember some of thes ideas when she is older, though, is another story altogether.
All in all I don't think that I would go out to buy the book for my collection since of my combined likes and dislikes of it. Instead I may borrow it from like a library or a website to read to a younger audience to help possibly lead a discussion about changing one's perspective but that would be about it.
***I received access to a copy of this book in exchange for a free review.***
January 21, 2019
This is one of those children's stories where the adults might not really get it but the children hearing (or reading) it feel like it's come from their own minds. The watercolour backgrounds and unique illustrations complement the gorgeous writing of Rebecca Gugger so well. From storms to growing to loneliness, Ida and the Whale is a special little book that I could see becoming a favourite for any child whose imagination leaves them feeling inspired and yet alone at the same time.
I was a child like this. I imagined all these wondrous things and then was always disappointed that the real world wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. However at some point I started to learn about how plants breathe or planets orbit or eggs hatch babies and suddenly I'd be reminded that the world is a special place. I feel like Ida and the Whale has captured some of that magic, both real and imaginary that many children have. This is a wondrous book that any child is likely to connect with on some level. Although the Discworld fan in me kind of wishes the whale was a turtle.
The writing is gorgeous in this children's book but my favourite line is:
"Sometimes you can only understand others if you stand on your head yourself."
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
I was a child like this. I imagined all these wondrous things and then was always disappointed that the real world wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. However at some point I started to learn about how plants breathe or planets orbit or eggs hatch babies and suddenly I'd be reminded that the world is a special place. I feel like Ida and the Whale has captured some of that magic, both real and imaginary that many children have. This is a wondrous book that any child is likely to connect with on some level. Although the Discworld fan in me kind of wishes the whale was a turtle.
The writing is gorgeous in this children's book but my favourite line is:
"Sometimes you can only understand others if you stand on your head yourself."
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
May 5, 2019
What a lovely and adorable, little book! “Ida and the Whale” is a sweet and entertaining tale of a little girl called Ida who lives alone in a tree-house and her new friend, the flying whale.
When I opened this wonderful book, my first thoughts were how absolutely gorgeously it had been illustrated by Simon Röthlisberger.
The book is cute and charming yet still evokes so much mood and emotion. The author, Rebecca Gugger tells the story very well and the use of vocabulary and the dialogue are strong.
This whimsical book communicates a positive message about feelings, normality and loneliness. The text is straight-forward and easy to understand for small ones and it is nicely complemented by good, strong artwork. The book is very well balanced between the story and the message it delivers.
I found the story of “Ida and the Whale” entertaining and winsome and I would definitely recommend it. I think it would make a lovely choice for anyone looking for an addition to their family library.
Thank you to NetGalley and North South Books Inc. for the complimentary ARC. This is my honest and totally voluntary opinion.
When I opened this wonderful book, my first thoughts were how absolutely gorgeously it had been illustrated by Simon Röthlisberger.
The book is cute and charming yet still evokes so much mood and emotion. The author, Rebecca Gugger tells the story very well and the use of vocabulary and the dialogue are strong.
This whimsical book communicates a positive message about feelings, normality and loneliness. The text is straight-forward and easy to understand for small ones and it is nicely complemented by good, strong artwork. The book is very well balanced between the story and the message it delivers.
I found the story of “Ida and the Whale” entertaining and winsome and I would definitely recommend it. I think it would make a lovely choice for anyone looking for an addition to their family library.
Thank you to NetGalley and North South Books Inc. for the complimentary ARC. This is my honest and totally voluntary opinion.
December 21, 2018
One night Ida is whisked away by a flying whale, off to see what’s beyond the moon and the stars. This imaginative picture book was such a pleasure to read! If you love whales like I do, you will love their magical journey. Such creative illustrations and artwork. I was impressed with the world they created.
The story starts with...
“There was once a little girl named Ida, who lived in a birch tree. She had yellow rubber boots and red hair.”
CUTE!❤️
I am so glad I found this book! Thank you to North South Books and NetGalley for this ARC, my opinions are my own.
This will be featured on my blog December 28, 2018.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
The story starts with...
“There was once a little girl named Ida, who lived in a birch tree. She had yellow rubber boots and red hair.”
CUTE!❤️
I am so glad I found this book! Thank you to North South Books and NetGalley for this ARC, my opinions are my own.
This will be featured on my blog December 28, 2018.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
October 12, 2018
This is an interesting book - the illustrations are gorgeous, the layout of the words on the page is interesting and fun, but the prose itself is all a bit plain. There's an underlying charm, but there isn't a lot of zest, fun, or 'read aloud' delights for the little ones listening to the story.
A nice tale that perhaps lost something in translation? It's a gorgeous book, but just an okay story. I'm not sure how much me and Miss 3 will be re-reading this one, though it looks really lovely.
A nice tale that perhaps lost something in translation? It's a gorgeous book, but just an okay story. I'm not sure how much me and Miss 3 will be re-reading this one, though it looks really lovely.
December 23, 2018
This was beautiful. 🐳
Ohh, this was beautiful. The colors, the drawings, the story. Everything was perfect. This book shows the power of imagination. When something is so pure and Joyful there's not so much to say. Just read it.
*I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley in Exchange for an honest review*
Ohh, this was beautiful. The colors, the drawings, the story. Everything was perfect. This book shows the power of imagination. When something is so pure and Joyful there's not so much to say. Just read it.
*I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley in Exchange for an honest review*
May 29, 2020
Interesting book about a girl and a flying whale and their adventures. Illustrations are wonderful.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC
January 3, 2019
An adorable little children's book with a great story. We really enjoyed it. My kids really loved it.
March 29, 2021
Ich finde es auch manchmal ein bisschen lustig, wie tiefgründig Kinderbücher zu sein versuchen. "Ida und der fliegende Wal" hätte seine ganzen irgendwie kryptischen Lebensweisheiten, die ein bisschen was von bekiffter Unterhaltung haben, gar nicht nötig. Die Reise durch die wunderschönen Bildwelten von Gugger und Röthlisberger hätte auch ohne sie funktioniert.
May 23, 2020
3.5 stars
The highlight of this picture book is the gorgeous illustrations by Simon Rothlisberger. The fantastical story felt a little too philosophical for the picture book set and the language was a little stilted.
The highlight of this picture book is the gorgeous illustrations by Simon Rothlisberger. The fantastical story felt a little too philosophical for the picture book set and the language was a little stilted.
April 2, 2019
Read the full review at An Inkling Reviews
Oooh, I'm a sucker for watercolor illustrations, so this book definitely had my attention. I have always enjoyed reading stories to classes that got the kids thinking, discussing, and building off each other's ideas. I was hoping this book might be one that got those types of discussions started... and it kinda was.
What I liked
Imagery: Röthlisberger's lovely watercolors went from simple to a detailed twist of perception. There was almost an MC Escher quality to some of the illustrations that really pull you in and make you want to explore each page. This was a visually engaging book. (I know some art teachers who would love to use Ida and The Whale for a variety of units.)
Played with word placement and color: I really liked how Gugger's text would wave, stretch, or fade as it fit the story. The font wasn't constantly changing like a Geronimo Stilton book, it was generally one word per page. It's an element that worked well with the story and the illustrations.
What I'm on the fence about
Philosophical-ish: Yes, there are some statements like, "Sometimes there is more to see than you think," or, "sometimes you can only understand others if you stand on your head" that kids can discuss or wonder over. But the "philosophy" seemed to be more opposite statements than something designed to make you think. It reminded me a lot of Audrey Wood's Bright and Early Thursday Evening, except far less manic in pace.
What didn't work for me
I can't put my finger on it: The story seemed to abruptly change with each idea that it briefly explored. Is it because it's a translation and something was lost in the switch to English? Is it a storytelling style that I'm not familiar with? The book just seemed more like strung together ideas as opposed to a cohesive story.
Ida and the Whale is a quiet story with engrossing illustrations. Visually the book is fantastic. I think it's a great choice for kids who, like me, can spend a lot of time inspecting the pictures and finding hidden little gems. The narrative has some nice elements but never seems to add up to whole story.
Oooh, I'm a sucker for watercolor illustrations, so this book definitely had my attention. I have always enjoyed reading stories to classes that got the kids thinking, discussing, and building off each other's ideas. I was hoping this book might be one that got those types of discussions started... and it kinda was.
What I liked
Imagery: Röthlisberger's lovely watercolors went from simple to a detailed twist of perception. There was almost an MC Escher quality to some of the illustrations that really pull you in and make you want to explore each page. This was a visually engaging book. (I know some art teachers who would love to use Ida and The Whale for a variety of units.)
Played with word placement and color: I really liked how Gugger's text would wave, stretch, or fade as it fit the story. The font wasn't constantly changing like a Geronimo Stilton book, it was generally one word per page. It's an element that worked well with the story and the illustrations.
What I'm on the fence about
Philosophical-ish: Yes, there are some statements like, "Sometimes there is more to see than you think," or, "sometimes you can only understand others if you stand on your head" that kids can discuss or wonder over. But the "philosophy" seemed to be more opposite statements than something designed to make you think. It reminded me a lot of Audrey Wood's Bright and Early Thursday Evening, except far less manic in pace.
What didn't work for me
I can't put my finger on it: The story seemed to abruptly change with each idea that it briefly explored. Is it because it's a translation and something was lost in the switch to English? Is it a storytelling style that I'm not familiar with? The book just seemed more like strung together ideas as opposed to a cohesive story.
Ida and the Whale is a quiet story with engrossing illustrations. Visually the book is fantastic. I think it's a great choice for kids who, like me, can spend a lot of time inspecting the pictures and finding hidden little gems. The narrative has some nice elements but never seems to add up to whole story.
November 6, 2018
Ida lives in a treehouse, always daydreaming as she takes in the landscape, wondering what’s out there in the world. A flying whale wakes her up and asks her to accompany him on a trip. Being a redhead, of course she takes him up on it. They go to many strange places, where the whale proves to be a philosophical genius.
The cover is funny, with a little redheaded girl next to a gigantic whale. . . and it’s still not to scale. Later on there’s a visual showing how much bigger the whale is than the treehouse, which is probably going too far, but other than that it’s mostly with her bigger than she should be. In honesty, I suppose it had to be done that way so that the two can communicate, but for someone who’s studied whales all his life—me—that’s a bit jarring, like a proofreader who can’t help but point out the errors (also me).
The prose was good, but the illustrations, seemingly childlike and impressionistic at the same time, are the key here. Those who love blue will enjoy this.
The cover is funny, with a little redheaded girl next to a gigantic whale. . . and it’s still not to scale. Later on there’s a visual showing how much bigger the whale is than the treehouse, which is probably going too far, but other than that it’s mostly with her bigger than she should be. In honesty, I suppose it had to be done that way so that the two can communicate, but for someone who’s studied whales all his life—me—that’s a bit jarring, like a proofreader who can’t help but point out the errors (also me).
The prose was good, but the illustrations, seemingly childlike and impressionistic at the same time, are the key here. Those who love blue will enjoy this.
January 29, 2019
I absolutely adore the artwork in this picture book. It evokes so much mood and emotion, while still remaining cute and charming. It's so gorgeous and whimsical that I wanted to live inside this world.
The story is well-told, and the vocabulary is good. There are a lot of contrasting terms, and the dialogue is strong. That makes this a great read for early learning.
Since I sit on a picture book committee and read and rate quite a few of them each year, I tend to be picky. For whatever reason, I just really enjoyed this one, even though it's a bit understated, especially with the ending. The story is simple and heartfelt.
This is one instance where a simple story is so blessed to have such amazing artwork that evokes so many emotions. Had this been paired with lesser artwork, I might have considered it an average read, but the story and artwork together made this so enjoyable.
The story is well-told, and the vocabulary is good. There are a lot of contrasting terms, and the dialogue is strong. That makes this a great read for early learning.
Since I sit on a picture book committee and read and rate quite a few of them each year, I tend to be picky. For whatever reason, I just really enjoyed this one, even though it's a bit understated, especially with the ending. The story is simple and heartfelt.
This is one instance where a simple story is so blessed to have such amazing artwork that evokes so many emotions. Had this been paired with lesser artwork, I might have considered it an average read, but the story and artwork together made this so enjoyable.
April 15, 2019
'Ida and the Whale' by Rebecca Gugger with illustrations by Simon Rothlisberger is a kind of magical picture book about a little girl with an unusual friend.
Ida is a little girl that lives in a treehouse and wonders what is beyond the sun and stars. One night, she is awakened by a loud thump and wakes to find a large whale outside her window. As they fly and talk they visit strange worlds and learn that things like flowers die so they can live again. Ida learns that if you feel lonely, you still can have a friend who thinks of you.
Does it make any sense? Not so much, but the illustrations are magical and the story is still strangely touching. I think a book like this can really spark the imagination and dreams of a young reader.
I received a review copy of this ebook from NorthSouth Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Ida is a little girl that lives in a treehouse and wonders what is beyond the sun and stars. One night, she is awakened by a loud thump and wakes to find a large whale outside her window. As they fly and talk they visit strange worlds and learn that things like flowers die so they can live again. Ida learns that if you feel lonely, you still can have a friend who thinks of you.
Does it make any sense? Not so much, but the illustrations are magical and the story is still strangely touching. I think a book like this can really spark the imagination and dreams of a young reader.
I received a review copy of this ebook from NorthSouth Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
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August 12, 2024"Ida and the Whale" is an imaginative children's book with fascinating illustrations, however this book was lacking something for me. I found some of the illustrations to be quite stunning while others were random and a bit confusing. This book is based on what seems to be a child's dream, which is a really sweet and interesting idea, however I found the bulk of the story/text of "Ida and the Whale" to be unclear and incomplete. I believe this book would be most enjoyed as a bedtime story for very young children who would likely appreciate the pictures and the sound of the reader's voice.
I received this book from NetGalley and the book's publisher in exchange for my honest review, for which I am very grateful.
I received this book from NetGalley and the book's publisher in exchange for my honest review, for which I am very grateful.
January 9, 2020
The concept of this book, a small red haired girl living in a very stilted treehouse and meeting up with a galactic whale flying through the forest and going on an adventure with it, is such a wonderful place to start the book from. It's a very enjoyable journey, and there are a couple of really striking moments. One of them has to do with the way that a very faint gradient is used on the page. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's really a wonderful moment in the book. There's also the rare thing of a children's book saying that it is okay to be sad. This isn't done in a preachy way, but instead in a way that just seems to normalize the range of human emotion. Such a lovely book with such beautiful art.
March 5, 2019
Loved the illustrations and the wonderful fantasy story for young children. It's a book of imagination, and seeing things through and from a different perspective. I loved how after she traveled with Ida the Whale she put reminders of the things she had seen and learned, showing the importance of traveling out of a small area of perspective and seeing everything from a larger scope. I also loved that she learned that silence is beautiful and each second doesn't have to be filled with some kind of noise. I thought this book was beautifully created and would highly recommend!
January 1, 2019
A beautifully illustrated story about going through the world with open eyes and finding unexpected wonder and beauty. This books takes you on a sweet adventure and with every turning page I was looking forward to discover more.
This book was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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