The Storm Whale

Product Information

Noi and his dad together rowed the boat and left the whale in the sea. Noi was glad that his dad was with him and he felt much better. They together return the whale to the sea.

Age 3-7 The Storm Whale is a story about a lonely boy called Noi. The son of a hardworking fisherman, Noi spends a great deal of time on his own. One day he finds a stranded baby whale on the beach. Can he keep the whale at home? He would love the companionship. The story explores his dilemma and what happens when his father finds a whale in the bath. This is a beautifully illustrated appealing story about being lonely and taking responsibility. It could lead to broader discussions about issues such as animal welfare. Benji Davies is fast establishing himself as a leading light in children’s picture books” – Huffington Post I don’t remember a huge number of picture books from when I was little but Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea was a big favourite. Noi lived with his fisherman father and their six cats in a small house by the sea. Every day his father would head out to sea on his boat, and the young boy would be on his own. Then one day, after a great storm, Noi found a baby whale washed up on shore. Determined to care for this stranded creature, Noi brought the whale home and put it in the bathtub. His understanding father, when he discovered the cetacean in the tub, realized that Noi had been lonely, but told him that they would have to return the whale to his ocean home all the same. The Storm Whale is a gentle reminder that sometimes you need to make an effort to stay connected to each other. Noi’s dad is plodding through life but it takes the Storm Whale to make him realise that he needs to make more time to share with Noi.The Storm Whale by Benji Davies is a tender and gentle story about the relationship between a boy and his father. La ballena, es un libro acerca de la soledad silenciosa. Esa clase se soledad que casi nunca se percibe y que las personas que no la padecen no se dan cuenta.

Did you rescue injured animals as a little boy? Just thinking of Noi and the care he takes of little storm whale. Noi and his father live in a house by the sea, on a small island that doesn't seem to have many inhabitants. Because Noi's father works long days on his fishing boat and doesn't return until after dark, Noi is often on his own. One day, while exploring on the beach after a storm has hit, Noi finds a baby whale washed up on shore. With the affection and good intentions unique to a young child, Noi decides to take the whale home and look after him. Happy to have a friend who we can speak to but conscious he willl not be allowed to keep the whale, Noi tries to hide the whale from his father. But there is only so long you can keep a whale in the bathtub a secret. When his father finds the whale and explains that he must be returned to the sea, Noi learns a valuable lesson from the experience, but so does his father.Noi rescued the storm whale at the end of summer and he never stopped thinking of the storm whale from then. It was the start of winter and Noi’s dad decided to go fishing one last time. He left with his boat and didn’t return. The story of Noi Poignant, sensitive and understated […] this is a not to be missed tale where the narrative thrust and emotional span transcends the simplicity of its words." Intensely atmospheric, full of biting cold, tender detail and warm light, this is a book to cuddle up with” – The Guardian The Storm Whale is an evocative portrayal of a child's need for friendship, told through the sparest of text and imagery in this beautiful picture book."

Give your child a simple folded paper book. They could pretend they are Noi and write their diary in it – telling how he found the whale and took it home. Make up a story Para mim é o melhor tipo de livro: sem purpurinas, sem espatafúrdias, sem lições de moral. Com todo o amor. A lovely story about a little boy named Noi who becomes friends with a baby whale washed up on the beach. The choice of the whale came seamlessly at the point of inspiration as I remember it. The idea that a whale could be in the bath was so misplaced as a concept that the story began forming around that starting point. Benji describes the book as being like the journey home; just as Storm Whale takes us out to sea, the sequel carries us home, as we find that Noi’s kind deed to the little whale was never forgotten.

Get to know us

Here is a trailer for the sequel to The Storm Whale. Could you make an animated trailer to promote this book? Once children have become familiar with the story they could tell it to you, using the pictures as a guide. It is fine if children not yet reading use their own words for this. Talk about the story