The Lost Whale

Description

The enchanting second novel from the author of The Last Bear: the bestselling debut hardback of 2021 and The Times Children's Book of the Week, winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award 'An irresistible ocean-loving yarn' The Times Shortlisted for Edward Stanford Children's Travel Book of the Year THEIR BOND COULD SET THEM FREE . . . Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea. Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help. Can Rio draw on their special connection to somehow find and save his whale . . . ? Perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold

Hannah Gold worked in the film and magazine industries before taking time out to pursue her dream of writing. She lives in Lincolnshire with her tortoise, her cat and her husband. The Last Bear is her middle-grade debut. Levi Pinfold's debut, The Django, won the Book Trust Best New Illustrator award and his second standalone picture book, Black Dog, was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for excellence in children's book illustration. This was followed by Greenling, which won the UKLA Picture Book Award. Levi has recently turned his considerable talents to illustrating fiction for older readers, creating exquisite pieces for the twentieth-anniversary special editions of the Harry Potter series and working with author A. F. Harrold on The Song from Somewhere Else, which went on to win the Amnesty Honour at the 2018 CILIP Kate Greenaway Awards. He currently lives in NSW, Australia.

'From the author of the bestselling The Last Bear comes another engrossing tale that blends ecological awareness with deftly plotted adventure' Waterstones, Books of the Year 2022 'The Last Bear, Hannah Gold's award-winning debut, explored the intense connection between animal and child that can help with expressing pain and anxiety - and The Lost Whale reprises that theme' Daily Mail 'A winning book from a master storyteller' Irish Independent 'Unforgettable highly accomplished animal adventure about the connection between a boy and a whale, with strong ecological themes' Fiona Noble Bookseller 'A powerful and deeply moving story' Daily Mail 'The author's passion for the natural world currently under threat makes their book outstanding' New Statesman, Best Children's Books of the Year 'Lyrical page-turner' Observer 'An irresistible, ocean-loving yarn' The Times 'Simply beautiful - tender, heartfelt and hopeful with such crystal-clear storytelling. . . Rio and White Beak's story will stay with me for a long time' Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home 'Beautifully crafted story of hope and healing' Katie Heap, Scope for Imagination 'Magnificent! The Lost Whale will lift your heart as high as the ocean is deep' Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild 'The most spellbinding read. I raced through this book, completely engrossed in Rio and his quest to find White Beak. My book of the year so far' Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant 'The Lost Whale is filled with wonder, fascinating facts and a main character with a heart as a big as a whale. You won't want to miss it' Annabel Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief