Sing Like a Whale by Moira Butterfield and Gwen Millward, Welbeck Kids
Hey little human, do you want to make noises like the wild animals of this world?
This wonderful book takes children on an interactive and untamed world tour, teaching them how to sound and behave like twelve different animals. The human protagonists are diverse with lots of Black, Asian and minority ethnic characters, so every child can see themselves in the story. Animal actions as well as sounds are included and this also informs children about the habits and habitats of the featured creatures.
I love Moira Butterfield's gentle, lyrical text and simple, easy-to-follow instructions, while Gwen Millward's illustrations are amazing. The animals are incredibly cute and the whole book exudes warmth, affection and excitement. All the characters, including the animals, appear to be enjoying themselves as much as the book's readers.
Although there is plenty of exotic wildlife, I was surprised when the peeping chick became the firm favourite in this house, with the goat close behind. The four-year-old has a soft spot for the kookabura too. It's fantastic how the story ends with a human sound and song, of which we've all grown very fond (and there have been several spontaneous outbursts).
Both of my kids have been out of school all week with coughs and colds. Sing Like a Whale has been brilliant for keeping them - and me - amused. We have all found it incredibly therapeutic as well as great fun! We've enjoyed this book so much and there have only been three of us - I can imagine it being even more entertaining when read aloud to a group.
This is perfect for taking on holidays as insurance against rainy days and teachers and childcare workers will certainly find it an excellent resource. A beautiful hardback, it makes a gorgeous gift and it's a book I'll definitely be buying for others in future. Its companion, Dance Like a Flamingo, has gone straight on my wishlist too.
Sing like a whale by Moira Butterfield and Gwen Millward was published by Welbeck Kids in August 2021. A huge thank you to the lovely people in Welbeck Kids for sharing this fabulous book with us - all opinions expressed are our own.