One can never read too many books, especially to children. Our family loves to read a lot of non-fiction books, particularly those stories that have been inspired by a true event. With absolute pleasure, we were able to review Little Whale in Deep Trouble, written and illustrated by Hans Wilhelm. This delightful read takes you on a magical journey to explore the majestic humpback whale that lives in the depths of the ocean. This is a 32-page hardcover book that can be read in one sitting, although your reader or listener will probably want to explore either via Internet or library more on the subject of whales when finished. The cost is $9.99 and will appeal to all ages, but is targeted for ages 4-7.

We were able to incorporate Little Whale in Deep Trouble into our morning story time, in which I read a story to my five- and seven-year-old, and then we discuss the content of the book. With this being a story inspired by a true event, we were able to explore even further the animals of the ocean, especially the humpback whale—discovering the different characteristics of the whale, what they need in order to survive, how humans can create difficulties for ocean creatures, and our role in helping the whale thrive and survive on the planet. Oscar the Humpback Whale also provided the inspiration and creativity behind our whale paintings that are displayed on our art wall.

This could be a wonderful unit study to explore the humpback whale for those in pre-kindergarten to upper elementary. This book also provides numerous discussion starters, such as life of a whale, taking care of our oceans, a human’s vital role in caring for the planet, an emergency plan if you find an animal in trouble and knowing who to call for help. Another way to incorporate this book into your homeschool is using the information as inspired creativity to create works of art, painting with different materials to re-tell the story of Oscar and his journey of being caught in a fishing net, rescued by humans, and then set free again. What a powerful story your students could tell using their imagination and some color.

Our family really enjoyed reading and learning about humpback whales and how it is estimated that over 300,000 whales and dolphins are caught every year in different materials like fishing nets. We were already aware that we need to be conscious of our marine life, since we live so close to the Atlantic, but we had no idea that so much trash finds its way into our oceans and ultimately hurts those marine animals we so love to enjoy. This book created an awareness for my kids that is hard to describe unless you show them through an inspired story, like Little Whale in Deep Trouble.

It would have been really fantastic to see the author incorporate some real-life photos in the back of the book, along with the events of how this story was inspired. Whenever reading a non-fiction story, I always look for the real event at the end of the story with pictures and details so I can share this information with my kids and they have a better understanding of reality.

This book was such a delightful read, and we would recommend incorporating this story into your child’s exploration of marine animals, ocean life, or caring for the planet. What a wonderful way to propose a new topic and keep learning exciting and fun! For those “outside of the box” thinkers, there are several ways for this book to help you explore the endless possibilities of creativity. Be inspired along the journey!

-Product review by Pam Havens, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, July 2017