The Whale Child

By: Keith Egawa, Chenoa Egawa, Jessica Hernandez

Narrated by: Chenoa Egawa, Keith Egawa

An inspiring middle-grade chapter book that introduces young listeners to the environmental challenges facing the planet through the eyes of Coast Salish characters and authors.

"You have family on land as you do in the sea...being a caretaker of the earth begins with taking care of the water that all life depends on."

Shiny is a whale child. One day his mother teaches him about the harm facing the world's oceans because of human carelessness. Shiny agrees to be turned into a boy by the ocean's water spirit so he can visit the land and alert people to these dangers. He meets Alex, a young Coast Salish girl who learns from Shiny that the living spirit of water exists in everything - glaciers, rivers, oceans, rain, plants, and all living creatures. Together the two travel the earth, confronting the realities of a planet threatened by an uncertain future. Inspired by Shiny's hope, humor, and wisdom, Alex makes the promise to become a teacher for future generations. She realizes that the timeless Indigenous value of environmental stewardship is needed now more than ever and that we must all stand up on behalf of Mother Earth.

Written and illustrated by Indigenous authors Keith Egawa and Chenoa Egawa, The Whale Child introduces children ages seven to 12 to existing environmental issues with a message of hope, education, sharing, and action. Ideal for middle-grade listeners who are beginning to explore chapter books on their own, this book also includes resources for students and teachers to facilitate learning about Pacific Northwest Indigenous cultures and the environment.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Keith Egawa, Chenoa Egawa, and Jessica Hernandez (P)2022 North Atlantic Books

Critic reviews

"Vivid illustrations juxtapose the beauty and scale of the natural world that the children explore.... This necessary read decolonizes the Western construction of climate change." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"The sacred art of Indigenous storytelling is beautifully upheld in The Whale Child. It teaches us of our relationship with the living Earth, about balance and respect and the responsibilities that we hold toward one another across species. The story guides the reader using traditional Coast Salish lore in a contemporary narrative, masterfully weaving the timeless wisdom of Indigenous ways of knowing into our current reality. The whale child's journey is taken for us all. We must bear witness.” (Sherri Mitchell Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset, author of Sacred Instructions)

“Those of us with hands and feet (alas) who self-identify as members of the Earth’s Whale Tribe now have a new wonderful, strong, kind, and happy tale to represent us, and with which to remember our connection to All Things by. The Whale Child provides that ‘smart step in the right direction’ we all need.” (Paul Owen Lewis, author and illustrator of Storm Boy and Frog Girl)