The Whale

Ethan & Vita Murrow Press Reviews

When two young intrepid explorers set out to find the legendary Great Spotted Whale, they get much more than they bargained for. In this sublime wordless picture book by Ethan and Vita Murrow, the detailed-filled pages play out this epic story with eerily dramatic graphite illustrations. Fifty years after the alleged first sighting, the pair equip themselves for a truly magical sea adventure. Armed with all sorts of special equipment and cameras, the intrepid duo won't be missing their chance to capture the incontrovertible proof, if it is actually out there. The nature of the profound black and white spreads with varying hues of grey, further add to the haunting beauty and inconceivable vastness of the ocean. The blackness of the the deep, dark sea against the pale grey tones of the tiny boat merely emphasises the vulnerability of the young explorers and adds a palpable underlying tension to their search. When their ultimate moment arrives and the couple catch sight of the mythical whale, they don't miss their opportunity to snap pictures and record each spellbinding second. The newspaper articles scattered throughout the book add a layer of additional detail which makes the unexpected ending even more magical. Out in September, published by Big Picture Press, set your own narrative to this dramatic adventure and get lost in the detail of each unfurling spread. -- Sarah Yewman - Picture Books Blogger

Ethan and Vita Murrow's The Whale truly doesn't look like any other children's book out there at the moment, save the possible exception of some of Shaun Tan's work. The amazing story, told largely wordlessly (aside from the aforementioned newspapers) is beautifully illustrated by Ethan Murrow, an amazing artist who chooses to work with pencils to produce the most stunning monochrome illustrations, packed with character and detail and looking like they're primed and ready to leap right off the page... [...] It draws you in, it truly draws you in and begs you to tell the tale and interpret it in your own way.[...] It's quite a gutsy thing to do, putting out a children's book that looks like this AND relies on wordless storytelling, but this is an absolute triumph that truly should not be missed. Charlotte's favourite bit: Girl and Boy working together furiously to combine their two shattered boats into one awesome whale-detecting vessel. Daddy's favourite bit: Stunning artwork, a glorious and joyful story and a really unique feel truly mark this out as something very special. Do not pass this one by, it's utterly amazing! -- Phil May - Read it Daddy!

The articles beneath (partially obscured) describe events half a century earlier, piquing readers' interests and vaulting them into the children's ardent endeavors. Photorealistic graphite drawings stretch across pages, bringing sea spray, wires, lenses, wooden planks, waves, ropes, and frayed fabric into penetrating focus. These extraordinary black-and-white illustrations, etched with details, crosshatches, shadows, and shading, charge the children's expedition with a pulsing, breathless urgency. Their preternatural technical proficiencies and passion-fueled mission emerge somehow as entirely believable. More astounding is the artist's uncanny ability to reproduce the murky transparency of rippling ocean water, a whale submerged silently just beneath. Wordless, with masterful artwork and an intriguing narrative undertow, this whale's tale will transfix. - Kirkus Reviews

In this sublime wordless picture book, the detailed-filled pages play out this epic story with eerily dramatic graphite illustrations. Set your own narrative to this dramatic adventure and get lost in the detail of each unfurling spread. -- Picture Books Blogger Wordless, with masterful artwork and an intriguing narrative undertow, this whale's tale will transfix. -- Kirkus Starred review -