I Love You, Blue

Light-house-keeper Jonas is rescued from drowning by a whale, Blue. They become friends. But he in turn must help Blue, before she is killed by the plastic bags inside her.


When Jonas the lighthouse-keeper is rescued from the stormy sea by a whale, they become friends. But soon Blue the whale is in great danger too, and now he needs help from Jonas...

This touching love story from world-renowned picture book creator, Barroux, beautifully highlights the urgency of saving our oceans.

"A powerful environmental message indeed and one that young children will most certainly relate to. Barroux’s soft-coloured illustrations with simple, thin black outlined images are highly effective conveyors of the tale alongside the child protagonist’s telling."

"A complete delight, this is a book I will be using in school again and again!"

"Often, the seemingly simplest picture-books offer the greatest space for talk. Barroux invites readers (v. young to v. old) to consider our impact on the environment. First person narrative was a fine choice, bringing us closer, emotionally, to the message."

"A beautifully illustrated book with a gentle story about a friendship between a whale and a lighthouse keeper and a very strong message to help save our wildlife and oceans from plastic pollution."

"An evocative, simple tale that will delight every reader with its simple, minimal text and full-page water-colour illustrations, this is a gentle but important story. A love story, love for a friend, for the environment that teaches us we need to care for those we love and for the world we all live in. We learn, children learn though this story, the importance of saving both our oceans and our whales, of all the wildlife in them. Every reader will doubtless gain a sense of the kinship between earth and see, between the creatures of both and a feeling for the actions that they can take to help save our oceans, our planet from plastic pollution. A moving, a beautiful, an important book."

"This is such a beautiful picture book about a love story between a whale and a lighthouse keeper named Jonas... an impactful and powerful book... There aren’t many words and yet the message is put across to children loudly and clearly. The illustrations work wonderfully with the storyline and are very moving."

"A touching eco-tale highlighting the impact of plastic waste in the oceans...Little readers will love this charming book with its gentle (yet powerful and urgent) message – it will be sure to inspire young environmentalists! It’s also a heartwarming tale about friendship, kindness and caring for others (and our environment)."

"The love between Jonas and Blue is beautifully and joyfully depicted in the book and encourages a sense of kinship between people and animals."

“Highly recommended for home, nurseries and schools."

"This is one of those books that forces you to stop. I mean this in the sense of dropping everything on the library or bookshelf floor and letting yourself be completely absorbed... The book is beautiful, informative and instructional."

"..a charming story about friendship, caring for the ocean and the animals that live in it. A really beautiful book that introduces little ones to the impact of plastic waste."

"There is no lack of picture-books about the importance of protecting nature but very few deliver this message as clearly and effectively as 'I Love You, Blue', written and illustrated by Barroux...

Combining aesthetic qualities and pedagogical dimensions, 'I Love You, Blue' is a perfect introductory text to spark discussion about the environment and pollution because help does not come just out of the blue."

“This is a touching love story with a very important message from Barroux, who is a world renowned picture book creator... This friendship develops and the book raises the issue of conservation and the urgent need to save our oceans. The book offers many opportunities for discussion and is ideal for children aged 4-6.”

Barroux has won many international honours, from the 2005 Prix Enfantasie to the PEN Award and the Prix Médecins Sans Frontières in 2015. Born in Paris, he grew up in Morocco. His sensitivity to the problems facing humanity and the natural world is reflected in many of his books, including Line of Fire with Michael Morpurgo, and Alpha, with Bessora. Most recently he has illustrated Hello! A Counting Book of Kindnesses, by Hollis Kurman, for Otter-Barry Books (2020). Barroux lives in Paris.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.