LITTLE GRAY'S GREAT MIGRATION

Little Gray, a whale calf, doesn’t want to leave his lagoon, but he soon realizes why he must make the long journey north.

Little Gray loves showing off for people. He blasts bubbles out of his blowhole, slaps the water with his flukes and, for a grand finale, jumps as high as he can. Everyone claps and takes pictures. So when Mama tells him they must leave the lagoon and swim to a “special sea that’s filled with food,” he does not understand why they have to go. The ocean is cold and dark; they travel for a long time. Lindsey weaves whale facts into the journey, describing the sounds they use to communicate and various food sources. When Little Gray sees how weak and thin Mama is getting, he finally understands why they must reach their summer feeding grounds. Gabriel’s polarized palette of light blue sky and white, frothy foam for the surface contrasts starkly against the dark, shadowy depths of the ocean floor. This voyage may not have an adventurous spirit or an element of predatory danger, but it certainly shows how long the whales’ monumental migration can be. Five pages of backmatter include additional information, a map and a bibliography.

A suitable glimpse at a mammal that’s likely to be overlooked in migration lessons.