The Brave Little Whale
Charlotte Manning
Otter-Barry Books

Fiction and fact come together in this book featuring Uki, a young Humpback Whale. Acting as narrator, Uki explains at the outset that his name means survivor and that his grandpa Yuka has looked after him for as long as he can remember.

One day Yuka informs Uki that he’s going to teach him his sea songs. The reason being that his grandfather isn’t going to lead the pod on the Polar journey that spring but will remain in the warm tropical seas and instead kind, gentle Cousin Amka will act as guide. As they depart Grandpa reminds Uki not to forget his songs and to be brave, but the little whale is feeling anything but brave.

On the journey the whales will face dangers many on their – hungry sharks, noise pollution and storms included.
After a storm, they encounter strange, unfamiliar objects in the sea – plastic pollution is causing a huge hazard to the whales. Amka sings to the other whales doing what Grandpa Yula had called ‘whispering’. Then comes a ‘click-click – squeeeeeak! sound: a pack of hungry Orcas had heard the migrating Humpbacks. Amka calls, “Scatter”, dives down and the other Humpbacks flee in all directions.

When Uki comes up to breathe, he’s safe but alone save for seabirds so he sings a calling song grandpa had taught him and gradually the pod reassembles but there’s no sign of Amka. Later he’s discovered entangled in a piece of fishing net, deep in the seaweed but the Orcas have found the Humpback pod. “Be brave” was what Grandpa Yuka had told Uki and so he sings loudly causing the Orcas to move right close. However rather than attacking, they follow their queen’s instructions and free Amka in return for something Grandpa Yuka had done long ago. The Orca queen also gives another instruction – what could it have been and will it help the Humpback pod to reach their Polar destination?

With bold, collage style illustrations and text with a powerful message about polluting the oceans, this fascinating book is one to add to KS1and KS2 collections