Where's my song? (Little Whale's Song - Fran Evans)

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	Little Whale's Song - Fran Evans
Date:	01/07/06 (88 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: feelgood book

Disadvantages: none

Little Whale’s Song

Piccadilly Press £4.99
ISBN 1-85340-737-2
Published 2003

Continuing with our pirate and seaside theme, I found this book, and read it to a class of key Stage 1 children.

THE STORY

The story focuses on little Whale, who is playing happily on the ocean bed, and doesn’t realise that his family have gone missing- left him alone as they swim away.

Naturally, he is frightened (the children agreed that they would be afraid), and things get worse when he tries to sing his whale song to call his family back, and no sound comes out.

Little Whale swims along the ocean bed, and in turn, sees a dolphin, a lobster, an octopus a turtle and a seal. he asks each of them to sing their own special song in the hope that this will remind him of the sound he makes. It’s all to no avail- they either don’t sing or sing a different song.

Poor Little Whale! he shoots out of the water and sprays the water in the air, but still he can’t sing.

At this stage, when he is looking thoroughly miserable, the children felt very sorry for Little Whale and tried to think of ways to help him out of his predicament.

A manatee swims over to Little Whale (must be the wise one of the ocean) and tells him that nobody can teach Little Whale his song; he must try to make a sound which is his own. Little Whale sighs and sighs until it sounds like “a happy sing-song sigh”

He begins to sing his family song and hears his family answering, and then there they are-5 whales swimming towards him. The final picture showing them all circling each other in delight was a particular favourite and ended the story beautifully on a happy note.

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

All of the illustrations are in muted blues and greens with the other animals whale meets being a soft shade of their own particular colour.

The pictures are very calming and have appropriate bits of detail to add interest and to support the picture such as an abandoned ship’s wheel at the bottom of the ocean.

Little Whale’s expression does change depending on his mood, and when he is down, he really does look sad and in fact, miserable.

The pictures are usually double page spread with text in the corner but sometimes, if the action is quick, then there are 3 pictures to a page with the text between the pictures.

This adds interest to the story and means that children are aware of the changing pace of the story.


OTHER BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR

I had never heard of this author but have found 2 other books by her. If the illustrations are similar to those in this book, I will be buying them as they are about fairies and will certainly appeal to Little Mis.

Butterfly Fairy’s secret
Fairy Hill


WHAT I THOUGHT

A lovely book, and just right for a bedtime story, even to very young children. The children empathised with Little Whale, and were delighted when he found his family.

We talked about the sounds whales might make and listened to whale music, so be prepared for the inevitable questions about whale sounds, and ready to try to make them!

The pictures perfectly complement the style of the story and we enjoyed talking about what could be found on the sea bed. It was also a useful chance to find out what the animals are…no one had a clue about a manatee until we read the story but now we know.

There was lots of talk about feelings and how the children would feel if they got lost, and from this naturally came discussions about keeping safe.

A delightful book, and one which is ideal for young children. The soothing illustrations and happy story line make it perfect for a feel good bed time read.

Thanks for reading.

Daniela xx

Summary: Lovely bed time story