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If You Like Whales... Part II

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 Last year, we wrote about some of our favorite whale books. But, y'all, there have been so many good whale books that have come out this year. I HAD to do another blog post about them. So for the marine obsessed (like me!) here are some more excellent books to read if you like whales!

Written by Kate Messner
Illustrated by Brian Biggs
New York : Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2026. Picture Book.

In this hilarious book, a whale and an otter use facts about their species to debate who is the ultimate ocean mammal. Whale discusses how they work together as pods while otter mentions that they hold hands with each other. What is really interesting, however, is the format of the book. When reading it front to back the whale's perspective is the focus, while the otter's perspective comes to light when the book is read in reverse. Kids will definitely ask for multiple readings of this fun title!

Call Me Moby
By Lars Kenseth
New York : Balzer + Bray, 2026. Picture Book.

Moby Dick is maybe the most vilified animal in American literature, but what if he was just a misunderstood whale who wanted to find some friends? Thus is the tale told in Call Me Moby, a picture book about an adorable whale who really wants to be noticed by the cute boat that he sees. Captain Ahab is less enthused to make his acquaintance than Moby is to meet the crew, and begins screaming at him. In the end, Moby learns that maybe "not everybody will get you" but that doesn't mean you should stop trying to find friends. Your kids don't need to know the story of Moby-Dick to fall in love with the cute protagonist in this story.

Whale, That was Unexpected
Written by Casey Lyall
Illustrated by Kathryn Durst
Toronto : Tundra Books, 2026. Picture Book.
 
The narrator in this story is telling the tale of Maude, an old woman who, along with her boat and her dog Calude, gets eaten (Jonah-style) by a whale. As she coaxes the narrator to give her a proper eulogy, she is joined by a crab, octopus, goat, sea lion, and puffin, who have also met their fate in the whale's stomach. This book is an excellent read-aloud for the whale obsessed children in your life.

Twelve Daring Grays
Written by Nora Nickum
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
Sommerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2026. Informational.

This beautifully illustrated tale follows a group of gray whales as they make their long migration from warm waters where they are born to the cold Arctic seas where they feed. Along the journey, the whales face many challenges, including predators, storms, and exhaustion. The daring grays must rely on their instincts and one another to survive. The mixed-media illustrations in this book stand out as much of the story and kids will find themselves absorbed in the pages.
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