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Rating: 
Summary: An exquisite picture book.
Review: "Once upon a time... the ocean was filled with whales. They were as big as the hills. They were as peaceful as the moon." So begins Lilly's grandmother, who goes on to tell her young granddaughter about a time not all that long ago, when she was a girl herself... a time when whales still sang and danced in the ocean. In the length of a picture story, author Dyan Sheldon has succeeded in creating a haunting, unforgettable glimpse into a future that might come to be. She makes our hearts ache for a loss we haven't realized yet. Her poetic, evocative text delivers a powerful message, yet is never preachy. Equally powerful are the stunning oil paintings of illustrator Gary Blythe. His Lilly is so astonishingly real, one can almost feel the warmth of her cheeks, the softness of her dark curls, the breath from her lips as she sleeps open-mouthed in moonlight. Blythe is equally at home depicting a convincingly detailed and cluttered sitting room, as he is offering a lonely beach occupied only by a single sea shell. The Whales' Song is a power house of a book for all ages - an absolute gem.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, loving story, exceptional paintings.
Review: As a homeschooling parent I read this book with my children as we were doing a unit study on sound. Whales have a the ability to make a much higher pitched sound than the human ear can hear. It is their song, or communicating which facinates us. This book offers magnificent and realistic paintings which will delight your eyes as well as your heart. The grandmother tells of the whales, is it real or fantasy? All the while a great uncle so blatently informs the little girl what whales were used for in the past. As we know, whales have much larger brains then ours- who is to say they would not sing for a kind gesture from a loving stranger? This book has found a special place in our home library, I hope it will for you or someone you love as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Not my niece's favorite
Review: First, let me say that the illustrations in this book are exquisit. The oil paintings are absolutely fabulous. However, they are a little dark and my niece seems to have a hard time relating to them at times. The story is good, but not excellent. The relationship between the main character and her grandmother is very well drawn. However, the book wavers between real life and the dream world. At the end of the book when the whales call the main character's name, we had to answer questions about whether the girl was going to live with the whales forever because they had called her. This is not a bad book, but a bit too disquieting to become a favorite for us.
Rating:
Summary: Not my niece's favorite
Review: First, let me say that the illustrations in this book are exquisit. The oil paintings are absolutely fabulous. However, they are a little dark and my niece seems to have a hard time relating to them at times. The story is good, but not excellent. The relationship between the main character and her grandmother is very well drawn. However, the book wavers between real life and the dream world. At the end of the book when the whales call the main character's name, we had to answer questions about whether the girl was going to live with the whales forever because they had called her. This is not a bad book, but a bit too disquieting to become a favorite for us.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: I bought this book over ten years ago while living in London as a student. Now, married with 3 children, it is a family favorite. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the story is told in a magical tone. We love to whisper the words on the last page -it always captivates the kids. The part of the story that discusses the purposes of the whale long ago is a bit advanced for small children, but for the older ones it promoted conversation & learning. Buy this book in hardcover to ensure it lasts longer. A WONDERFUL MUST-HAVE for anyone with an imagination!!
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful,peaceful story.
Review: I have purchased this book for all my nieces. We read this book over and over again and it never ceases to lose it charm and its ability to touch the heart. It is our favorite and will be saved in our family to read to future children. Cindy S. Bartels
Rating:
Summary: Beatriz and Constantin's review
Review: When we first read this book, we played the sound of the whales for our 7 year old son Constantin, so he could relate to the story and its magic. The illustrations are beautiful and very powerful. This book also presents a lovely relationship between a little girl and her grandmother, both of them dreamers and believers who disregard whoever makes fun of them and their ideas. We read this book in Spanish and liked it so much that ordered it in English.
Rating:
Summary: Beatriz and Constantin's review
Review: When we first read this book, we played the sound of the whales for our 7 year old son Constantin, so he could relate to the story and its magic. The illustrations are beautiful and very powerful. This book also presents a lovely relationship between a little girl and her grandmother, both of them dreamers and believers who disregard whoever makes fun of them and their ideas. We read this book in Spanish and liked it so much that ordered it in English.
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