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The Storm Whale #1
The Storm Whale
Every day, in a house by the sea, a little boy watches his father leave for a long day's work. One night, a great storm washes a small whale onto the beach. The boy discovers the whale is a good listener. The father discovers the boy is lonely. Together, they return the whale to the sea. And from that day on, the boy learns that the father can be a good listener too, in Benji Davies's heartwarming tale, The Storm Whale.
First published March 1, 2013
19 people are currently reading
1310 people want to read
About the author
Benji Davies
237 books261 followersBenji Davies is the illustrator of the Bizzy Bear books, Bizzy Bear: Let’s Go and Play and Bizzy Bear: Fun on the Farm. As a child, Benji knew that when he grew up he either wanted to make films or draw pictures in books. He is still working out which he likes best, and currently divides his time between illustrating children’s books and directing animation.
He has worked on a huge range of subjects and platforms, with clients as diverse as such Waterstone’s, Sainsbury’s and Oxfam, and in countries as different as India and Australia. He’s illustrated for several major publishers and is pleased to be working on Nosy Crow’s start-up list.
He lives in Hackney in London.
He has worked on a huge range of subjects and platforms, with clients as diverse as such Waterstone’s, Sainsbury’s and Oxfam, and in countries as different as India and Australia. He’s illustrated for several major publishers and is pleased to be working on Nosy Crow’s start-up list.
He lives in Hackney in London.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 421 reviews
June 29, 2025
While I did like this book, I feel like the message the author was trying to present wasn't clear. While reading it, I was under the impression that being kind in general, and especially to animals was the moral of the story. I simply thought there was a boy, who found a whale in need of assistance, and that was the whole of it. It wasn't until the text said the boy was lonely almost at the end of the book, that I realized the boy's solitude was considered negative by the author. In my opinion, for a child's book, the text and the art should construe the same things. In this case I feel that the art was trying to infer things that weren't mentioned in the text, and for a young child would either be missed or confusing, especially if they aren't old enough to read the book to themselves. I did really like the art. It was rich, colorful, and charming. I recommend this for ages 4 and up, even if the true message is lost on the little ones.
May 31, 2016
This week I was privileged to watch three 6 year old girls 'read’ this book. It's always humbling to see how children approach books: slowly, delightedly, inspecting every aspect of the illustrations for details and connections. They counted cats on every page and almost died laughing when they found a cat in the boat at the end. They adored Noi's house and noted with glee that he fed his fathers's catch to the whale secreted in the bathtub. Towards the end they spent a long while figuring out that the shadows in the ocean meant whales at sea. The girls were also curious about the words and read through slowly, taking one word each by turns, prompting each other if necessary. It's not a standard way to read a book, and some would argue that this book is beyond the instructional level of two of those students, but consider what was going on. These girls shared a happy and joyful reading experience. They were completely tuned into meaning and, if you can bear a bit of teacher talk, they spent a long time practising sight words and decoding new ones in the context of being fully engaged in a great narrative. If you ever wonder what learning looks like, I think this was a good demonstration. My only role, apart from having this and a few other awesome books in my classroom and allowing for some autonomy in how students read, was helping out with the pronunciation of 'Noi’. After that it was all their own work.
November 15, 2020
A lovely story about a little boy named Noi who becomes friends with a baby whale washed up on the beach.
I love how this story carefully presents Noi to be lonely, and seeking comfort in his new friend the whale. Also, the way it portrays a different family type with Noi's dad being a single parent, and showing how they have to do a lot of work to provide for the family.
I love how this story carefully presents Noi to be lonely, and seeking comfort in his new friend the whale. Also, the way it portrays a different family type with Noi's dad being a single parent, and showing how they have to do a lot of work to provide for the family.
November 17, 2023
Tiesiog nuostabi iki ašarų knyga. Joje pilna gėrio, meilės o iliustracijos tiesiog užburia...
January 4, 2019
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.
With a heartwarming tale of a boy, his father, and his unexpected encounter with a cetacean visitor, and absolutely beautiful artwork that perfectly captures Noi's seaside world, The Storm Whale is a lovely picture-book, one in which art and text are skillfully matched. I really liked the understated way in which Benji Davies highlights the love that Noi's father has for him, the way that he instantly understands that Noi has been lonely, when he sees the whale in the tub. I also liked the fact that, despite recognizing and sympathizing with his son's feelings, Noi's father is firm about returning the whale to his proper home. The artwork was just as appealing as the story. I loved the cute family cats, and found the scene in which Noi and his father row out into the ocean, with its deep blue background, just breathtaking. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about whales and/or the loving bond between a father and son.
With a heartwarming tale of a boy, his father, and his unexpected encounter with a cetacean visitor, and absolutely beautiful artwork that perfectly captures Noi's seaside world, The Storm Whale is a lovely picture-book, one in which art and text are skillfully matched. I really liked the understated way in which Benji Davies highlights the love that Noi's father has for him, the way that he instantly understands that Noi has been lonely, when he sees the whale in the tub. I also liked the fact that, despite recognizing and sympathizing with his son's feelings, Noi's father is firm about returning the whale to his proper home. The artwork was just as appealing as the story. I loved the cute family cats, and found the scene in which Noi and his father row out into the ocean, with its deep blue background, just breathtaking. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about whales and/or the loving bond between a father and son.
March 22, 2019
Noi is a little boy who is often left alone when his father goes out on his boat to fish. One day after a storm, Noi goes out exploring along the beach. He finds a baby whale. He knows the baby whale needs to be in the water, so he takes it home and places it in the bathtub. Afraid his father will be angry, Noi is able to keep his whale a secret. But the secret is soon found out. Dad is not angry. He realizes his little boy is lonely. Father and son return the whale to the sea. The next morning, they are at the breakfast table together. They even go for a picnic by the sea.
The pictures of this easy read book will keep children entranced in the story. This book would be good for a read-out-loud or a one-on-one about father's and sons.
The pictures of this easy read book will keep children entranced in the story. This book would be good for a read-out-loud or a one-on-one about father's and sons.
August 15, 2023
2023: Inmiddels heb ik wat meer prentenboeken gelezen en ik vind hem nog steeds mooi, maar meer 4-4,5* nu.
2017: 5* Dit was een enorm schattig en aandoenlijk verhaal met hele mooie tekeningen. Het is een boek dat me echt bij is gebleven!
2017: 5* Dit was een enorm schattig en aandoenlijk verhaal met hele mooie tekeningen. Het is een boek dat me echt bij is gebleven!
May 24, 2020
Mega süß!!!! Wie kann eine Geschichte bloß so süß und gleichzeitig so tief sein, auf nur ein paar Seiten im Pappbilderbuch? Ich hab zwar die niederländische Ausgabe gelesen, aber das wird auf Deutsch genauso toll sein❤️
February 6, 2017
Sooooo freaking cute and sad but happy and I don't care that I'm at least 20 years too old for this book I WILL read the sequel!
November 23, 2019
Nehorázne krásne malé/veľké pohladenie na duši. Keby mám deti, tak im to čítam od rána do večera a neviem kto by mal väčšiu radosť :).
April 28, 2025
Wunderschön illustrierte und einfache, aber sehr einfühlsame Geschichte über den kleinen Nick, der eines Tags einen gestrandeten Wal am Strand findet und beschließt, dass dieser ab jetzt sein Freund sein wird.
May 1, 2022
PODCASTové zamyslenie je tu
Noi sa každé ráno po ockovom odchode do práce cíti opustený. No len do toho dňa, keď sa objaví na brehu mora veľrybie mláďa. Takúto kamošku však pred ockom asi dlho neutají… Dojemný príbeh o samote, priateľstve a rodičovstve.
Príbeh nezvyčajnej záchrany i priateľstva.
Goodreads Challenge 2022: 37. kniha
Noi sa každé ráno po ockovom odchode do práce cíti opustený. No len do toho dňa, keď sa objaví na brehu mora veľrybie mláďa. Takúto kamošku však pred ockom asi dlho neutají… Dojemný príbeh o samote, priateľstve a rodičovstve.
Príbeh nezvyčajnej záchrany i priateľstva.
Goodreads Challenge 2022: 37. kniha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2016
Kaunis ja haikea kirja Toivosta, joka viettää aikaansa paljon yksin sillä aikaa, kun isä käy merellä kalastamassa. Meri tuo rannalle aina kaikkea mielenkiintoista ja eräänä päivänä Toivo löytää rannalta valaan. Toivo tuo valaan kotiinsa isältä salaa ja tekee kaikkensa, että valas tuntisi olonsa kotoisaksi. Kun valas ei voi jäädä pysyvästi Toivon kylpyammeeseen, tulee eron hetkellä tällainen keski-ikäinen naisihminen aivan liikuttuneeksi. Viisi tähteä, ehdottomasti. Ihana kirja.
October 31, 2020
I loved this little tale about a lonely boy who discovers a small whale washed up alone on the beach and decides to take it back home.
The boy and the whale are similar because their parents are mostly absent and they find a friendship in each other. The image at the end when the boy and his father return the whale back to its home is gorgeous. The pages are filled with the sea, pulling the reader into the small boat with them as they wave a tearful goodbye.
The boy and the whale are similar because their parents are mostly absent and they find a friendship in each other. The image at the end when the boy and his father return the whale back to its home is gorgeous. The pages are filled with the sea, pulling the reader into the small boat with them as they wave a tearful goodbye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2021
Kniha vekovo vhodná pre najmenšie deti (do 3 rokov). Aj staršie si vedia v knihe nájsť záchytné body, najmä v ilustráciách, ale predsa len im chýba väčšia zápletka a aj tá zápletka, ktorá je v knihe, je pomerne slabá. Nepoznám inú autorovu tvorbu, ale mám pocit, že je to jeden z tých prípadov, keď je autor zdatný ilustrátor, ale slabý rozprávač (najmä pri detskej literatúre je príbeh veľmi podstatný).
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May 30, 2025em puc considerar dealer de llibres per a una nena filla d'una amiga. li agrada molt aquest llibre i l'altre dia el vam llegir juntes. tot i el titol, un dels highlights és la quantitat de gats que hi ha!
October 27, 2019
Um belo conto infantil sobre amizades improváveis.
Um belo alerta sobre solidão para pais atarefados.
Faltou um pouquinho mais de surpresa na história, ou um pouco menos de linearidade, mas a arte é linda.
Um belo alerta sobre solidão para pais atarefados.
Faltou um pouquinho mais de surpresa na história, ou um pouco menos de linearidade, mas a arte é linda.
January 13, 2020
A young boy rescues a whale.
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January 10, 2022kalbimi maviye boyadı.
January 2, 2021
Πολύ τρυφερό και με όμορφα νοήματα το βιβλίο αυτό! Καταπληκτική και η εικονογράφηση του.
June 24, 2021
Lief verhaal, fijne illustraties.
October 29, 2017
We in this house love the sea and any stories about it, so this picture book caught our eye immediately.
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.
This is the story of a lonely boy who gives the gift of kindness to one of the sea's creatures, who in turn gives something invaluable back to Noi: his father. This is a charming and simple tale from a wonderful talent. The illustrations are beautiful. There is a clarity and tenderness to this book that will leave its mark. A truly heartwarming read and a lovely edition to your little library.
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.
This is the story of a lonely boy who gives the gift of kindness to one of the sea's creatures, who in turn gives something invaluable back to Noi: his father. This is a charming and simple tale from a wonderful talent. The illustrations are beautiful. There is a clarity and tenderness to this book that will leave its mark. A truly heartwarming read and a lovely edition to your little library.
July 24, 2025
Prachtig geïllustreerd kinderboek
November 17, 2020
Benji Davies çok özel birisi. Kaçınılan duyguları anlatmanın farklı yollarını bulmakta usta. Ama burada en büyük gücü kitaplarını kendi çizmesi bence. Muazzam bir çizim tarzı var. Bunu da nicedir okumak istiyordum. Kalın sayfaları ve çook kaliteli baskısıyla bir koleksiyon kitabı.
October 27, 2016
Prachtige vormgeving en illustraties. Het verhaaltje stelt niet zo veel voor. Dus vooral heerlijk om naar te kijken en zelf wat moois bij te verzinnen.
August 7, 2019
#leranatureza🌻
November 3, 2023
I love books like this, the opportunities for prediction are fabulous and i know many pupils that would love to express how they’d hide a whale.
Benji has a talent for making such comforting characters and settings through his illustrations, even when a storm begins. Its a great story of a young boy who discovers a whale stuck on the beach and decides to save him. There are definitely a few key themes that shine out in this book.
The only criticism I have is that I was sort of expecting the loneliness of the boy to be resolved in a more explicit way? The book seemed to end very quickly. His father appears in each photo implying that he now has more time with his dad but would he still be wandering those beaches looking for treasures alone?
Benji has a talent for making such comforting characters and settings through his illustrations, even when a storm begins. Its a great story of a young boy who discovers a whale stuck on the beach and decides to save him. There are definitely a few key themes that shine out in this book.
The only criticism I have is that I was sort of expecting the loneliness of the boy to be resolved in a more explicit way? The book seemed to end very quickly. His father appears in each photo implying that he now has more time with his dad but would he still be wandering those beaches looking for treasures alone?
Displaying 1 - 27 of 421 reviews