Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
London : Hutchinson, 1990.
Subjects
Original publication date
1990
ISBN
0091742501 / 9780091742508
Description
Enthralled by her grandmother's story of seeing and hearing whales singing in the sea long ago, Lilly hopes to see them herself and to hear their mysterious songs.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Shine
Hauntingly beautiful illustrations and a tear rendingly touching narrative!
LibraryThing member bad019
I used this book for my first read aloud and the kids loved it. Beautiful paintings throughout the book and some good facts about whales are also discussed. Covers past and present events. The book is about a little girl who is staying with her grandmother who is telling her the secrets about
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getting to see the whales. You have to give them a special gift and if they accept the gift then you will get to see them. Show Less
LibraryThing member McKennaMiller
I was always very into stories that were mysterious and magical as a child. I also loved whales so this was one of my favorites. I love when grandparents are in stories where they tell stories to the young ones in the family about things they use to do.
LibraryThing member bookwren
Perfect meld of story and illustrations.
LibraryThing member AmandaLK
Summary: Lilly's grandmother tells her stories of watching the majestic and beautiful whales, and if you give them a pretty shell or rock, they might sing for you. Despite her uncle admonishing grandmother for telling foolish tales and calling her in to stop dreaming, Lilly gives the sea a flower
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and watches to see the whales dance and sing. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecarlson2014
A picture book about a grandmother who tells her granddaughter a story about her childhood and how as a young girl she would hear the whales sing. Written off as a legend, her granddaughter will find out whether or not the whales really sing.
LibraryThing member Whisper1
This is a beautiful book about dreams, nature, hope and believing.
Lilly's grandmother tells her stories of listening to the whales and their songs, and that as a child when she gave something to the whales, later they would dance and sing in the water.
Lilly's grumpy great-Uncle Frederick demands
In her dreams, Lilly hears the whales. One day she places a small yellow flower in the water. That night, slipping out of bed, silently going to the pier, she waits and waits, until magically the whales appear, dancing and singing. As she returns home and wonders if it was merely a dream, she swears she hears the whales call her name.
Lilly's grandmother tells her stories of listening to the whales and their songs, and that as a child when she gave something to the whales, later they would dance and sing in the water.
Lilly's grumpy great-Uncle Frederick demands
Show More
that the tales stop and that the only use for a whale is their meat, blubber and bones.In her dreams, Lilly hears the whales. One day she places a small yellow flower in the water. That night, slipping out of bed, silently going to the pier, she waits and waits, until magically the whales appear, dancing and singing. As she returns home and wonders if it was merely a dream, she swears she hears the whales call her name.
Show Less
LibraryThing member engpunk77
Similar in theme to her other picture book, Under the Moon, with beautiful paintings. Sheldon's protagonists in both are children who are trying to connect to the past and/or with nature.
LibraryThing member jfe16
“Once upon a time,” Lilly’s grandmother says, “the ocean was filled with whales. They were as big as the hills. They were as peaceful as the moon . . . .”
Lilly loves hearing the story of the whales her grandmother loved when she was a little girl. Grandmother tells her about bringing a
Great-uncle Frederick scoffs at Grandmother’s stories, insisting they are nonsense. But Lilly dreams of the whales and in her dreams, the whales are as large as mountains and as blue as the sky. In her dream, the whales sing with voices like the wind. They leap from the water and call Lilly’s name.
In the morning, Lilly goes down to the ocean and walks to the end of the old pier. She has a gift for the whales. She drops a yellow flower into the water and calls out, “This is for you.”
And then she waits for the whales.
Is Great-uncle Frederick right, that it’s all nonsense? Or will the whales come, just the way they did for Grandmother? Or will the whales come, just as they did for Grandmother?
Will Lilly ever hear the whales call her name?
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Young readers, ages four through eight, preschool through primary grades, are the target audience for this captivating picture book. With their atmospheric qualities, the illustrations bring Lilly’s story to life.
Enriched by the exquisite paintings of Lilly and her family, of the ocean, of the moonlight, and of the whales, this ethereal homage to the magic of fairy tales come true is borne on a song of a whale. Here the young reader sees the promise of a whispered dream realized. The beauty of the illustrations and Lilly’s poignant story combine to make this a book young readers are sure to ask to hear again and again.
Highly recommended.
Lilly loves hearing the story of the whales her grandmother loved when she was a little girl. Grandmother tells her about bringing a
Show More
gift for the whales, and, in return, once or twice the whales sang for her.Great-uncle Frederick scoffs at Grandmother’s stories, insisting they are nonsense. But Lilly dreams of the whales and in her dreams, the whales are as large as mountains and as blue as the sky. In her dream, the whales sing with voices like the wind. They leap from the water and call Lilly’s name.
In the morning, Lilly goes down to the ocean and walks to the end of the old pier. She has a gift for the whales. She drops a yellow flower into the water and calls out, “This is for you.”
And then she waits for the whales.
Is Great-uncle Frederick right, that it’s all nonsense? Or will the whales come, just the way they did for Grandmother? Or will the whales come, just as they did for Grandmother?
Will Lilly ever hear the whales call her name?
=========
Young readers, ages four through eight, preschool through primary grades, are the target audience for this captivating picture book. With their atmospheric qualities, the illustrations bring Lilly’s story to life.
Enriched by the exquisite paintings of Lilly and her family, of the ocean, of the moonlight, and of the whales, this ethereal homage to the magic of fairy tales come true is borne on a song of a whale. Here the young reader sees the promise of a whispered dream realized. The beauty of the illustrations and Lilly’s poignant story combine to make this a book young readers are sure to ask to hear again and again.
Highly recommended.
Show Less
Call number
JC A SHE