Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: whales

  • DEEP

    DEEP

    A baby whale is born and so the story Deep begins. His mother gently helps him to the surface to take his first breath. The reader follows the development of the calf and follows the journey of the pair across the ocean.

    His mother s takes the calf on a long trail so that he can memorize the way, and she wraps herself around him when danger is present. She is developing all the skills he will need to become independent.

    The illustrations are beautifully coloured and show the developing calf and his mother in a variety of situations and places. The text is a good size but occasionally is difficult to read when placed on the coloured pages. The story tells of a mother’s love and how she guides and nurtures her young one. Finally, she is able to see him make his own way on his journey.

  • The Whales on the Bus

    The Whales on the Bus

    The “Wheels on the bus,” is a well-known tune, and this story, The Whales on the Bus, is based on the same music. The bold and bright illustrations on the front cover of the book prepare us for a rollicking story. Joining the whales on the bus are tiny animals, birds and fish, but first we meet the whales. Next, we meet the “Cranes on the train”, then the “Sheep in the jeep.”

    As the reader sings the story the large and colourful illustrations act as a prompt. The humorous scenarios show familiar animals who are instantly recognisable. The animal sounds can be learned here.

    Perfectly written for younger children, this book is full of life and movement. Each double page spread is a different bright colour and if colour and song and movement are not enough, there is the delightful text. “The baboons in balloons float home for tea…” which is possibly a good time to read this book as it is not a quiet bedtime story.

  • A Kiwi Year: Twelve Months in the Life of New Zealand’s Kids

    A Kiwi Year: Twelve Months in the Life of New Zealand’s Kids

    Life in other countries is different but somehow the same, but as a child, how other people live in other countries is always interesting and fascinating to try and work out what other kids your age are doing.

    In A Kiwi Year, Tania McCartney and Tina Snerling, along with five New Zealand children share what happens over the twelve months of their year, as they sometimes have different events to each other, as they come from different backgrounds, but all call themselves Kiwi’s.

    Mason wants to grow up and become a rugby player with the famous All Black Rugby team, Charlotte, or Charlie to her friends and everyone else, wants to be a Zoologist, Oliver was born in China, loves Lego, cricket and acting. Ruby is a twin and wants to go to Uni and study Design when she grows up and Kaia, whose family are Maori loves netball and wants to be an Architect.

    Divided into months, January of course is when everyone is on holidays from school, the weather is hot and everyone hang’s out doing things with their families and friends, like going camping, playing cricket, doing heaps of eating and riding bikes.

    March sees the trees start to change their colours and lose their leaves, St Patricks Day as is Children’s festival are celebrated with lots of baking and fun, but most importantly the Rugby season begins. Snow falls in July, schools take a small holiday and lots of fun is had snowboarding, skiing. When school returns children learn to carve and weave, Maori style and drink Milo made by Mum.

    Guy Fawkes night is celebrated with fireworks in November as is Diwali Festival and whale watching can be done if you are lucky enough to go to Kaikoura. But when December come around once again, it is time to write Christmas cards, finish school for the year, decorate the Christmas tree, eat far too much on Christmas Day and enjoy celebrating the coming of a fresh new year.

    See, the same, but different.

  • Pea Pod Lullaby

    Pea Pod Lullaby

    Touching and beautiful this delicate piece of picture poetry will delight the hearts of all who read and enjoy this evocative story.

    Created as a component of an art installation being painted for the Manning Regional Art Gallery, by Stephen Michael King during a residency, the words were added by the talented Glenda Millard, in a manner which reaches out from both a visual as well as lyrical perspective.

    A Mother, her children and a small brown dog run for safety, they board a small boat heading out to sea; they come across a polar bear stranded on a melting ice flow, taking him on board. A whale and her calf travel under the boat to help guide them to safety, but who will take them in; who will care for them?

    As the boat travels on across the ocean, the polar bear eventually arrives at a safe place on the ice, with the mother, her children and the little brown dog, finally finding safe harbour in a place that could very easily be interpreted as Australia, a green and welcoming place.

    As the words unfold they sing to you in the timeless metre of the lullaby, ‘I am the falling star, you are the wishful hands, Catch me”, words which call out to the very soul.

    It is a story of courage, of hope, love, kindness and endurance which is so very important to be recognised in today’s word where kindness, courage and care is so often overlooked.

    Regardless of the age range of readers there is something to be found, discovered and enjoyed on every page. Each illustration contains many facets, the accompanying words equally so, making this a picture book and a beautiful, carefully created piece of poetry, overwhelmingly right for discussion and enjoyment.

    The Pea Pod Lullaby is a book to be treasured and enjoyed for and over generations.