Lyall, Casey. Whale, That Was Unexpected. Kathryn Durst, Illus. Tundra, 06/2026. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-77488-361-7. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.
An old fisherwoman named Maude and her dog Claude go out for their daily fishing trip when they and their small boat are swallowed by a whale. Maude stays calm and throws a party, joined by others who have been swallowed, described in a repetitive, cumulative fashion: “Farewell crab, king of the sea. Farewell octopus, permanently.” The humorous tale has a surprise ending that may remind some readers of the folktale The Fat Cat by Jack Kent (Scholastic, 1971). Done with gouache and charcoal, the cartoonish illustrations set the story in a small village in Northern Canada or Alaska. This will make a great readaloud due to the repetition and dry humor, and some will pick up on Maude’s unperturbed attitude that being swallowed by a whale is no big deal.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool