The Whale [Hardcover]

A wordless epic sea adventure

There is a legend that a Great Spotted Whale lives in the ocean, although a sighting fifty years ago was never corroborated. Now two young whale watchers each set out to find the whale, one armed with sound-recording equipment, the other with a camera. When their boats collide, they pool their resources to capture incontrovertible proof that the mythical whale exists. The eventual sighting is a magical moment, especially when the children discover that it was their own grandparents who first glimpsed the whale fifty years ago. The Murrows’ spectacular wordless adventure is brought to life with stunning graphite drawings that convey the drama and haunting beauty of the ocean and capture the majesty of the awe-inspiring whale.These extraordinary black-and-white illustrations, etched with details, crosshatches, shadows, and shading, charge the children's expedition with a pulsing, breathless urgency. Their preternatural technical proficiencies and passion-fueled mission emerge somehow as entirely believable. More astounding is the artist's uncanny ability to reproduce the murky transparency of rippling ocean water, a whale submerged silently just beneath. Wordless, with masterful artwork and an intriguing narrative undertow, this whale's tale will transfix.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

While the story may require some suspension of disbelief, the handsome illustrations show a great range of tonal quality and detail, as well as diverse design and perspectives. Those looking for clear-cut pictures of whales might be disappointed, but the artistically inclined will appreciate the interestingly crafted images.
—Booklist

A whale of a tale, beautifully rendered in nothing but pencil...Minute details, such as those found on the young man’s tattered coat, make it worth our while to examine each illustration closely. For its finale, the book comes full circle. A new edition of the Cape ClĂ,