Abigail the Whale

Pre-K to 4th Grade. A sweet picture book about a little girl who isn't feeling confident in herself. She dreads going to swimming class because other students tease her about her size. One day, her teacher pulls her aside and gives her advice: "We are what we think." She begins imagining herself as different things to get through the day. For instance, she visualizes herself as a giant when she's scared while walking home in the dark.

The illustrations are beautiful, especially the full page ones! I liked how Abigail took control of how she thought of herself, but I do wish the swim instructor would have taken control of his class. It would be a good jumping off point for talking about bullying and how it affects others. There's a good message about not letting other people determine your self-image, though sometimes that's easier said than done!

I have found this book to be absolutely adorable.

Like many other album books, it deals with difficult topics and situations and I loved the way it was handled. It was sweet, and funny, and everything that will resonate in children's mind. Highly recommend it!

There is a great message in this book, for children as well as adults

Abigail hates to swim. She always tries to be the last in the line, because she knows what is coming. When she dives in her large, big, heavy body makes a huge wave, and everybody starts saying "Abigail is a whale!". Oh, how she hates to swim!
Things changes the day her swimming teacher tells her that "we are what we think", and that if she wants to swim light, she has to think light. Abigail decides to give it a try, and actually when she thinks water she feels liquid, and she is not scared anymore when she thinks giant. Next Wednesday is time to try it in the pool. Can Abigail do it?

The story has an interesting approach to the topic of bullying. We don't have to accept what others say about us as the truth. It is much more important the way we feel about ourselves. Abigail is adorable, and she looks beautiful in these amazing illustrations. My 3 years old son wanted to look a thousand times to the picture of Abigail swimming underwater, and I can perfectly see why. It just makes you feel like swimming! Abigail learns what a great swimmer she can be when she just think that this is possible, and this is a wonderful message. She can also be a whale if she feels like splashing some naughty kids. :)

What a cute story, beautifully illustrated, with a hopeful message!
"You are what you think" can apply to adults too, helping people overcome their fears and difficult situations. I loved how Abigail rose above the bullying, kicking out the negative image with the positive, gaining new self confidence. She's a brave and beautiful example for everyone.
Recommend for younger children and up . 4.5 stars

The title and beginning of this book made me somewhat nervous because of blatant name calling and unkindness. But the author was able to show perseverance on the part of a child an the ability to turn it into positive. I enjoyed the book.

This book has beautiful illustrations. Also, a great lesson for children about the power of positive thinking. Children will enjoy it!

I really enjoyed this empowering story about Abigail who had to overcome her fears and just "jump"!

A charming and beautifully illustrated book that touches on body issues and positive thoughts of ourselves and our abilities. The paintings are quite lovely. I loved Abigail's instructor but was troubled by the lack of consequences for the children bullying Abigail.

The book's message isn't a magic bullet against bullying, but it can help a child focus on positive ways to face the world and thrive, regardless of the issue that is inhibiting the child.

A great book to teach children about positive thinking. Children can bring the best out of anything if they just learn how! The swimming teacher is a great exemple for us all! I really like this book!

This is a picture book about working with what you have. In this case Abigail is fat. When she jumps in the pool she makes waves and is teased about it. Rather than telling her to lose weight, or to not jump in, or some other such nonsense, her teacher tells her to think of herself as light.

<blockquote><em>"We are what we think," her teacher said. "If you want to swim well, you have to think light. Do you suppose birds or fish think they're too heavy? Of course not!"</em></blockquote>

So Abigail starts imagining herself as things other than what she is. She is afraid when walking home, so thinks of herself as a giant. She has trouble falling asleep so thinks of herself as a hedgehog. She uses this power in the pool and impresses everyone.

And when she wants to be a whale, she damned well does it because she wants to be.

Cute story. Bright pictures. Lovely idea.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Anything Abigail thought, she could be. Abigail decides to try a variety of thoughts after always being made fun of. This is a great self esteem and self respect book with teaching the power of thought.

Chubby Abigail dreads Wednesdays: swim practice! The other kids call her whale and it mortifies her. The swim coach notices that Abigail isn't performing up to her potential and advises her to think light. Visualization changes Abigail's outlook and her experience of daily life. This is a charming book with lovely illustrations and a powerful message which will resonate with kids and adults alike. Highly recommended.

This was a wonderful book which takes a positive-thinking approach to bullying. You can't control what other people do (although you can influence it for better or for worse!), but you can control how you see what they do and how you let it affect you.

Abigail is overweight and she loves swimming, and there, at the crux of these two contentions, is her problem: people make fun of her at the pool, and call her Abigail the Whale. She makes a big splash and it's not seen in a positive light by her classmates. I was tempted to wonder why the teacher didn't berate her classmates for their bullying and their mean 'fun-making', especially given that he's the one who turns around and introduces her to positive thinking, but I doubt young kids will be quite that analytical! It would have been nice had he said something to the other kids, though.

But this is about Abigail's problem, not the teacher's, and Abigail is smart and considers this new addition to her armory seriously. Once she tries it out and finds that it works, she embraces it whole-heartedly and starts to enjoy life again, and not just at the pool. I liked the way this book offered something for the child to do, and a way to think positively about herself. It's very simplified here, but maybe this will sow a seed or two which will grow, flourish, and blossom strongly later in children's lives. I love the illustrations by Sonja Bougaeva, and the book's overall tone.

Abigail the Whale by Davide Cali, Sonja Bougaeva (Illustrations) is a cute story about a girl that is a bit heavy and learning to deal with her body image. It is full of wonderful illustrations that really make the book POP! A adorable book and concept. Thanks NetGalley for suggesting this book!

At first I thought this book would bring back bad memories as I was the 'fat kid' who hated going for a public swim.
This book deals with the main character's weight issue if a very positive way which I know other children
will relate to. The illustrations are fantastic too!

Abigail the Whale was an unexpected delight. What a beautifully empowering message this story communicated. I adored it. Bravo!

This is a wonderful book on believing in yourself and self-esteem. Abigail does not like going to her swim class. Everytime she dives into the water she makes a big splash and the other children call her Abigail the Whale. One day her teacher tells her to imagine herself as light. From there Abigail imagines herself as water, a kangaroo, a hedgehog and more to achieve what she has to do. The illustrations are fun and vivid and the story flows very smoothly. I recommend this book for Level 2 Readers and to be read to 4+ yr olds.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another great addition for all elementary schools. A beautiful story about embracing who we are. Abigail is a little larger that the others in her class and that leads to name calling and sadness. This book shows how one little girl with the help of a teacher turns those negative hurtful thoughts into power. A book all kids should have access too, Loved it!!