Member Review
Review by
Vivienne O, Reviewer
My thanks to Macmillian Children’s Books for an advance digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Hope the Whale’ written by Macmillian Children’s Books in Association with the Natural History Museum, London. It is illustrated by Laura Chamberlain.
Hope the Blue Whale is one of the Natural History Museum’s most loved exhibits. This beautifully illustrated children’s book imagines her early life.
The story is told through the eyes of a young boy who lives by the ocean. He first sees the young blue whale swimming with her mother and names her Hope. Over the years he waits for her appearance during the whales’ annual migration. The illustrations include the young boy drawing pictures of the lives of the whales and a map of Hope’s migratory journey.
Following the story is a section with facts about the lives of blue whales and how Hope’s skeleton came to the Museum in the 1890s. It also briefly touches on the historic threats that brought the blue whale close to extinction, their subsequent recovery and now the new threats facing all sea life.
Laura Chamberlain illustrations are detailed and just exquisite. I was especially drawn to her use of the colour blue.
This picture book is intended for readers aged 3-6. I discovered my love of the ocean and marine life at around the age of 5 and can imagine how much this lovely book would have appealed.
Aside from parents, I expect that this book will be of interest to educators and librarians.
Hope the Blue Whale is one of the Natural History Museum’s most loved exhibits. This beautifully illustrated children’s book imagines her early life.
The story is told through the eyes of a young boy who lives by the ocean. He first sees the young blue whale swimming with her mother and names her Hope. Over the years he waits for her appearance during the whales’ annual migration. The illustrations include the young boy drawing pictures of the lives of the whales and a map of Hope’s migratory journey.
Following the story is a section with facts about the lives of blue whales and how Hope’s skeleton came to the Museum in the 1890s. It also briefly touches on the historic threats that brought the blue whale close to extinction, their subsequent recovery and now the new threats facing all sea life.
Laura Chamberlain illustrations are detailed and just exquisite. I was especially drawn to her use of the colour blue.
This picture book is intended for readers aged 3-6. I discovered my love of the ocean and marine life at around the age of 5 and can imagine how much this lovely book would have appealed.
Aside from parents, I expect that this book will be of interest to educators and librarians.
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