Waiting for the Whales

  • Illustrated By: Ron Lightburn
  • Pages:32
  • Publisher:Orca Book Publishers
  • Themes:environment, nature, multigenerational, sea life, wild animals
  •  
  • Available:03/25/2015
  • Age Groups:Fiction Picture Book
  • Lexile:AD840L
  • ATOS:4.7
Audiobook
9781459811423
$4.99
Paperback
9781459813687
$10.95
EPUB
9781459804746 LICENSE OPTIONS
$11.99
EPUB
9781459816121 LICENSE OPTIONS
$9.99

Waiting for the Whales illuminates the unique friendship between grandparent and child and celebrates the restorative power of the natural world.

An old man lives alone on a bluff overlooking the sea, tends his garden and waits. Only when the whales return each year to the bay in front of his cottage is his loneliness eased. Until, one day, an unexpected visitor arrives. Originally published over thirty years ago, this award-winning picture book is sure to enchant a whole new generation of readers.

"The gentle, distancing tone is reflected in softly detailed color-pencil art, with careful compositions and dramatic shadows...Poetic and comforting."
– Kirkus Reviews
"A delicate and beautifully executed book."
– Canadian Literature
"Written in precisely cadenced prose, McFarlane's story about the cycles of life--while not a new theme--is so deftly handled that it becomes genuinely moving."
– Publishers Weekly
"This beautifully written, sensitive story reflects on an important relationship between young and old...This text is skillfully enhanced by the accomplished artwork of Ron Lightburn...Twenty-five years later this enchanting book has been republished, proving that it is a classic appealing across the generations. It should be welcomed once again on the shelves in school libraries and classroom collections."
– Resource Links
"Waiting for the Whales, a multi-award winning (for both author and illustrator) picture book, was described as 'timeless' when originally published in 1991. Twenty-five years later, it lives up to that praise, remaining very much a story for today. The premise, setting, themes and illustrative style still inspire in this classic story written from the heart…Be sure to add this gentle but captivating story to your picture book collection. Waiting for the Whales will remain a favorite to reread for generations to come."
– CM Magazine
Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Our Choice   | 1991  |  Commended
Canadian Library Association (CLA) Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award   | 1991  |  Winner
International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Canada Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award   | 1992  |  Winner
The Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks) - Young People’s Literature Illustrated Books   | 1991  |  Winner
The National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award   | 1992  |  Winner
Today's Parent's 100 best Canadian kids' books of all time   | 2015  |  Commended