The Whale and the Astronaut

By Alaynah Hensens

In this cosmic adventure from lutruwita/Tasmania, meet a pilot whale who, through a muddle-up between sky and sea, finds herself lost among the stars. To her surprise, a human is there in space, too.

Through shared stories, the whale and the astronaut develop a friendship that transcends language, exploring empathy, self-discovery, and universal connections that make us think of home and love - even from far away in space.

Tasmania is sadly a global hotspot for whale strandings, and scientists like Dr Vanessa Pirotta are not yet sure why. According to Dr V, it could be that whales get spooked by predators or underwater activity from humans, or mis-navigate and swim too close to the shore. It could also be that a single whale, through illness, muddle-up, or misadventure, leads the pod astray.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1787883655
• ISBN13: 9781787883659
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Nightingale Books
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 11.0" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 4