Charlie's Whale

Charlie loves whales. Minke whales, orcas, beluga whales and humpbacks, sperm whales and right whales, and especially the great blue whale. Little readers will delight in Charlie's obsession with, and the illustrations of, these majestic giants of the sea from one of Australia's most loved and awarded writers for children.

Charlie loves the sea.

He loves the seashells and the seahorses, the sharks and the stingrays, the crabs and the crayfish.

He loves the gentle waves that creep up onto the sand and tickle his toes.

He loves the huge wild waves that crash onto the sand and make the beach tremble.

But most of all he loves the whales.

Distinguished writer Libby Gleeson and CBCA-shortlisted illustrator Hannah Sommerville have successfully collaborated on Charlie's Whale, a picture book that is destined for awards, and for popularity with children aged two to five years, as it affectionately explores that phase in a child's life when they are single-mindedly preoccupied with something. Charlie is the middle child. The siblings love playing at the beach but, while his brothers have other interests, Charlie is obsessed with sea creatures, particularly whales. He is desperate to see a live whale, and spends his time reading, imagining and playing with his toy whale. When his patient mother suggests that whales are too far away to see, Charlie hones his long-distance vision by practising 'spotting things far away', and finally achieves his desire. Somerville's illustrations of digitally layered watercolour, gouache, pencil and ink enhance the story through assured portrayal of the lively boys, the colours and light of the beach, and the rounded lines that echo the whale-shape. The subtle humour and hints of the longed-for whale in the illustrations create ongoing surprises. Charlie's Whale is an ideal read for those who treasure Freya Blackwood's picture books and Magic Beach by Alison Lester. Joy Lawn has worked for independent bookshops and blogs at PaperbarkWords.

Libby Gleeson (Author) Libby Gleeson AM has published over 30 popular, highly acclaimed books for children and teenagers, been shortlisted for 13 CBCA Awards, and won three. Libby has been a teacher and lecturer and contributes regularly to national conferences. She chaired the Australian Society of Authors from 1999-2001, and in 2007 was awarded membership to the Order of Australia. She won the 2011 Dromkeen Medal, awarded for contributions to children's literature. Her books have been shortlisted numerous times for the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards and Libby has won several times with Hannah Plus One (Fiction for Young Readers Book of the Year 1997), An Ordinary Day (Picture Book of the Year 2002) and Amy and Louis (Early Childhood Book of the Year 2007). Libby received the prestigious Lady Cutler Award for Services to Children's Literature in 1997. Hannah Sommerville (Illustrator) Hannah Sommerville is a best-selling picture book illustrator who creates enchanting watercolour, guache and digital illustrations in her home on the South Coast of NSW. Hannah earned a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts and Graphic Design) at the University of Wollongong in 2006. Hannah began illustrating in 2010 after the arrival of her young children from whom she draws inspiration. She is a storyteller who enjoys creating picture books that capture the imagination, tenderness and playfulness that surround children and family life. Her picture book Digby & Claude , written by Emma Allen, was selected for the CBCA 2019 Notables list. Anisa's Alphabet , written by Mike Dumbleton, was selected for the CBCA 2021 Notables list.

Charlie loves the sea. He loves the seashells and the seahorses, the sharks and the stingrays, the crabs and the crayfish. He loves the gentle waves that creep up onto the sand and tickle his toes. He loves the huge wild waves that crash onto the sand and make the beach tremble. But most of all he loves the whales. 'A simple but heart-felt story about the wonders of the natural world and the rewards of patience' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 'Libby Gleeson's words are lyrical, and Hannah Somerville's illustrations are almost ethereal as they combine to make a story that is as magical as the whales themselves' READPLUS

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