A Garden of Whales

By Maggie Steincrohn Davis

Book Overview

"A rhythmic text and lush illustrations that feature cavorting, majestically powerful whales. The poetic, somewhat surreal quality of the story is appealing." -- Horn Book Guide

"This tale of deliverance unfurls in luscious prose that rolls trippingly off the tongue... With her effulgent oil pastel illustrations O'Connell fully enters Davis's dream and strikingly echoes the fluent reverie. This is a bedtime read-aloud that will set heads nodding." -- Publishers Weekly

First published in 1993, A Garden of Whales is one of our most popular children's books. It is the story of a boy's fantasy of saving the whales -- a strong conservation theme carried with the empowering message that children's dreams are the roots of action. Last night in my tub, in my tub while I scrubbed, I dreamed that I lived in the sea with the Whales. Magnificent Whales. Mysterious Whales. Mystical, Musical, Mountainous Whales.

The narrator of this tale is a boy who knows that whales are magnificent but endangered creatures. He wants to do anything he can to save them, and as he scrubs in his bathtub, he dreams up a plan to save the whales.

Children from all over the world also get in their bathtubs to save the whales, planting a garden of whales. He knows this is a fantasy, but the dreams of children are the roots of action, and action changes the world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0944475353
• ISBN13: 9780944475355
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 10.5" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 3 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Breathtaking

As a mother of a three year-old who loves whale, I have to say that this is the pinnacle of his whale book collection. Humpbacks, grays, belugas, killers, fins, rights, bowheads, narwhals and even dolphins are all represented in a breathtakingly beautiful dreamy story of whales and the children who love them. Evenly matched with the prose is the awe inspiring illustration. Wow. This is just a beautiful book that you and your children will love. I read it twice to my son right out of the box and got choked up each time when I read about the children hatching a plan to regrow all of the whales that man has killed in their secret whale garden. This story acknowledges the deep connection that many children have with these large sea creatures and inspires them through a magical fantasy to save the whales themselves without one preachy word...ever. Even if your children don't love whales yet...they will after reading this book. A portion of the author's proceeds even go to the Earth Island Institute, "dedicated to developing innovative projects for the conservation, preservation and restoration of the global environment."

A Garden Of Whales

This book has a terrific story that will transform the reader into this great fanatsy land. The illustrations are top notch, bringing the whales to life. This is a must have book for all little tots. Jennifer O'Connell could be rated among the best of Children's books illustrators. This book has both an excellant story and great pictures.