How do you write a review for a wordless picture book? Especially a 250 word one? You could start by saying that the title is The Fisherman & the Whale and is by Jessica Lanan. They are also the illustrator. Or should say this book is by Lanan period. It was published in May of 2019. And it was a pretty wild ride.
The wordlessness is usually the first thing that turns me off on a book. Yet, there are a handful of books that have no words but really speak loudly. (Zoom and ReZoom always come to mind when I think of wordless picture books that are fantastically presented). The story is simple. I assume a father and son are out in their fishing boat for the day. The boy notices a whale captured in their nets. The father swims out to rescue the whale. Things happen, the whale is saved, and nature and man live in harmony again.
But I was just mostly looking at the illustrations and not trying to read them. The colors and lines are like the ocean. They are watercolors that just pop off the page. They are the ocean, people, and animals. There are variations of blues all over. The cover tells you all you will need to know. You see the main characters (man and whale). You see the colors and the way things are both romantic and realistic at once. They are both powerful and soothing illustrations with the right number of “things” added (such as the right details and colors).
An afterwards tells you about the plight of whales today. It also says, “Do Not Try This At Home.” There are facts about what you should do, more about the type of vessel that is being used and more. Honestly, I cannot put an age rang on this as it is wordless you can “read” it at any level. It might work well in a classroom learning about environmentalism, oceans, or whales. But you could do a solo-one-on-one read as well. Plus, a great gift for the adult in your life who is into the subjects mentioned.
