CCBC Choices 2017
Little Free Library Action Book Club, Young Readers
"This delightful story is based on the author's actual experience on Cape Cod. The illustrations are delicately lovely, the simple backgrounds allowing readers to focus on the action and expressive main characters. A helpful note about right whales concludes the book. A heartwarming paean to long walks along the beach."―Kirkus Reviews
"The fleeting nature of this relationship soon makes itself known, but the magic of the encounter, the hope of a future meeting, and the possibility of friendship with the girl conclude the story on an uplifting note."―Publishers Weekly
"Set in sunny Cape Code, this bright and colorful picture book is sure to catch the eye of its readers. The deep blues, greens, and yellow of the land and sea perfectly capture the warmth and happiness of the beach in springtime. This book will spark rich conversations on a broad range of topics."―School Library Journal
STARRED REVIEW! "The almost holy wonder of looking into a whale's eye is sublimely captured here in Bulgarian-born Bistra Masseva's beautiful, dramatic spread showing a giant whale's head looming large, with the boy dwarfed on the shore."―Shelf Awareness starred review
"This moving story delivers an up-close look at a right whale calf, told against the breathtaking paintings of sea, sky, and beach."―Booklist
About the Author
Cheryl Lawton Malone is a freelance writer, poet, and MFA grad who teaches at Lesley University and GrubStreet in Boston. She and her husband live in Massachusetts.
Bistra Masseva is a freelance illustrator based in Brighton, UK. She attended the Bulgarian Academy of Arts where she studied book design, typography, and illustration. She was recently long-listed for the 2017 Folio Illustration Award.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Dario and the Whale
By Cheryl Lawton MaloneALBERT WHITMAN & Company
Copyright © 2016 Cheryl Lawton Malone
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8075-1463-4
CHAPTER 1Every spring, when the sun wakes up the land, Dario and his mother move to seashore
Every spring, when the sun warms up the sea,
a whale and her new calf swim north to a cool bay.
Dario's mother has to work. This year she is a cook at the Salty Cod.
The whale is a right whale. She has to swim. She and her calf swim to a bay by the Salty Cod.
On his first day, Dario tries to make new friends. "Oi!" he calls to the kids on the beach.
He kicks a soccer ball. But the kids are playing baseball.
PUFF! The whale spouts. He chases a school of herring. The herring swim away.
Dario backs into a sand castle. Accidently.
"Hey," says a girl.
"Desculpe," Dario says, turning pink.
Sorry.
The whale bumps a green turtle. On purpose The turtle swims away.
Later, Dario runs along the sand. He flies a kite by himself
The whale has a notched tail. He launches himself UP.
Dario sees the whale.
The whale sees Dario.
"Wow!" Dario shouts. "Mãe, venha ver!" Ma, come look!
(Continues...)Excerpted from Dario and the Whale by Cheryl Lawton Malone. Copyright © 2016 Cheryl Lawton Malone. Excerpted by permission of ALBERT WHITMAN & Company.
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