Whale Child tells the story of a little girl who is separated from her family and her village after a great earthquake. Escaping the shoreline in a canoe, she is swept far out to sea. Though lost and afraid, she realizes she is not alone. A grey whale is quietly guiding her to an unknown place—a secluded bay where the whale and many of her kind have gathered to welcome the new generation. Here, the grey whale gives birth to a daughter, and when the baby whale draws her first breath, she absorbs the spirit of the lost little girl. As one, the whale and the girl find their way back to the girl’s village, where the girl—now strengthened by the spirit of the whale—is reunited with her family. Told in Caroll Simpson’s signature lyrical writing style and beautifully illustrated with paintings that take inspiration from the traditional culture and natural environment of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Whale Child is sure to enchant children ages five to eight.

Caroll Simpson taught Native art and drama to grade-school children for many years before buying a remote fishing lodge, called Ookpik Wilderness Lodge, in the northern interior of British Columbia. Located on Babine Lake, it is accessible only by boat in the summer months and by snowshoes during the winter.

Caroll spends the off-season writing and painting. She sees her work as a celebration of the legends and art of the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest. Her love for the art and history of the First Peoples of North America started when she was a young girl. She began studying Indian history and made her first moccasins at age 10, graduating to making leather clothing by the time she was 13. She still does leatherwork, and she has also made cradleboards for more than 30 years. Her love and respect for First Nations traditions is matched by her love for animals and nature.

Caroll Simpson's profile page

• Commended, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Spring 2017

A fantastic voyage through the interconnected worlds of nature and spirit! Highly recommended as a fun and informative adventure for young readers.

Daniel Cartamil, PhD, marine biologist, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

Caroll's work is not only timely; it is vital.

Robert Charlie, former chief of the Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation