If you want to see a Whale by Julie Fogliano illustrated by Erin E Stead

 

A boy and his hound dog sit by the seashore waiting to see a whale. They have important advice for others who also want to see a whale. You will need patience. You will need to wait. You need to be careful not to get distracted. Do not let yourself take a nap. Look closely at everything but again don't get distracted by pink roses, pirate ships, pelicans, or the patterns in the clouds. When you read this book with a young child you should slow down and savour every word and every page. The best picture books are poems. Here is one part of this exquisite book:

if you want to see a whale

there's no time to watch the pelican

who may or may not be smiling

while sitting, staring, looking out

because pelicans who sit and stare can never be a whale

On the publisher web site Macmillan US you can see the illustrations from this book and a beautiful book trailer with the most perfect sound track. If you want to see a Whale was a finalist for the 2014 Bull Bransom Award. If you want to see a Whale is still in print but only in hardcover and sadly here in Australia it is quite expensive but you might be lucky and find a copy in a school or local library. I was pleased to see my local library (Belrose and Manly) have copies.

Notwithstanding its simplicity, this story packs a powerful message about the experience of waiting, being mindful, and the wondrous journey that opens up before our eyes as we patiently travel the road to achievement. Happily ever Elephants

Fogliano’s writing is poetry.  She lets us wander into distractions, taking our own eyes off the sea to explore the grass, the roses and the clouds in the sky.  Her pacing is delicious, making us wait for the payoff in the end in a way that doesn’t promise anything other than the wait and the sea itself. Waking Brain Cells

This quiet book reminds us that daydreaming is a pleasurable activity for children, and that it can lead to a larger sense of the world. NewYork Times

The drifting verse floats and coalesces like the clouds that threaten to divert the boy from whale watching. When read aloud, it charms like an incantation. Kirkus Star

Here are some other books by Julie Fogliano that I have added to my own to read list: