World Whale Day
The Funtastic Festivities Booklists compile stories that relate to fun and festive days so that readers of all ages can join the celebration with a good book!
Sunday, February 20th, is World Whale Day when we celebrate some of the largest animals in our world, whales! Through whale-watching tours or scuba diving, we can see these majestic creatures do great things, like shoot out of the waters and flip, echolocate to communicate with each other, and swim with their babies as they show them the way. Let’s pick up a book and explore the underwater depths with our friends the whales.
Amos & Boris by William Steig, illus. William Steig (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group) — Fiction, Picture Book, Animals, ages 4-6.
The Boy Who Met a Whale by Nizrana Farook (Peachtree Publishing) — Fiction, Prose, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals, ages 7-12.
Charlotte’s Bones: The Beluga Whale in a Farmer’s Field by Erin Rounds, illus. Alison Carver (Tilbury House Publishers) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Animals, History, Science, ages 7-12.
The Eye of the Whale: A Rescue Story by Jennifer O’Connell, illus. Jennifer O’Connell (Tilbury House Publishers) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Animals, Science, ages 7-12.
Hello, Baby Beluga by Darrin Lunde, illus. Patricia J. Wynne (Charlesbridge) — Fiction, Picture Book, Music / Art, Humor, ages 4-6.
Here Come the Humpbacks! by April Pulley Sayre, illus. Jamie Hogan (Charlesbridge) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Animals, Science, ages 4-6.
Little Whale by Jo Weaver, illus. Jo Weaver (Peachtree Publishing) — Fiction, Picture Book, Animals, Science, Action / Adventure, ages 4-6.
The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story by Darcy Pattison, illus. Peter Willis (Mim’s House) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Animals, History, Science, ages 7-12.
A Possibility of Whales by Karen Rivers (Algonquin Young Readers) — Fiction, Prose, Animals, LGBTQIA+, ages 7-12.
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly (Random House Children’s Books) — Fiction, Prose, Science, Animals, Mental/Physical Health, ages 7-12.
The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales (The Secret Explorers #1) by SJ King (DK) — Fiction, Prose, Animals, Science, Series, ages 7-12.
The Whale in My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan, illus. Joyce Wan (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group) — Fiction, Picture Book, Animals, ages 4-6.
The Whaler’s Daughter by Jerry Mikorenda (Regal House Publishing) — Fiction, Prose, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Teen.
Thea Stilton 3-in-1: Book 1 by Thea Stilton (Papercutz) — Fiction, Graphic Novel, Romance, Action / Adventure, Series, ages 7-12.
Welcome Home, Whales by Christina Booth (Blue Dot Press) — Fiction, Picture Book, Science, Animals, ages 4-6.
Whale Shines: An Artistic Tale by Fiona Robinson (ABRAMS) — Fiction, Picture Book, Animals, Music / Art, ages 4-6.
Whale Snow by Debby Dahl Edwardson, illus. Annie Patterson (Charlesbridge) — Fiction, Picture Book, Animals, Background / Cultures, Diversity, ages 4-6.
Have a great World Whale Day!
List compiled by CBC’s resident trivia expert, Sommer Wissner. Check out other diverse book lists on our blog and from our Inclusivity Resources list.
