The Storm Whale in Winter

Noi and his whale return for another gentle adventure in the sequel to the stunning The Storm Whale. Noi is waiting for his dad to return from the last fishing trip before the sea turns to ice, but as it gets later and later he begins to worry. Then he spots something out on the water and rushes down to the shore. The snow is falling hard and soon Noi is lost. He discovers his dad’s boat but it has run aground on the ice, then a giant bump starts pushing the boat to safety. The storm whale has returned with his family, and together they’ll reunite Noi with his dad.

Benji Davies’ painterly illustrations are startlingly beautiful. The night-time scene of the whales pushing the boat to safety is a particularly stunning spread. Noi is such a cute little character and the scenery of his sea-side home feels fairly unique in picture book world. Fans of The Storm Whale will rejoice in the reunion of Noi and his whale, and The Storm Whale in Winter will inspire new readers to seek out the first book. This series continues to be lush and lovely.