Whaley Whale

Thingy Things

by Chris Raschka

Simple text and illustrations show the reader a whale hiding in the ocean.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

24 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2000

About the author

Chris Raschka is the illustrator of The Hello, Goodbye Window, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He is also the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor Book Yo! Yes?; Charlie Parker Played Be Bop; Mysterious Thelonious; John Coltrane’s Giant Steps; Can’t Sleep; and The Magic Flute. He lives with his wife and son in New York City.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's not easy for a whale to hide in a room with only four other objects in it. watch whaley whale try! don't read montambo's review, though -it's spoiltastic!!

come to my blog!

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thingy Things have a simple concept, unexpected colors, a minimalist midcentury aesthetic, and beautiful lines. Would that all books for emergent readers had such appeal! Truly I am surprised that someone hasn't turned his work into a high-end nursery furnishings line.

Also, I may have mentioned this before, but one of the hardest reading issues for me during the pandemic has been restricted access to picture books. Keeping up with authors genres etc. In adult and YA material hasn't been a problem: I have trusted reviewers and friends and resources enough that the constant happy problem is keep my To Read list down to a sortable level. And while I have authors and illustrators and reviewers, I don't have the opportunity to browse faced out shelves for art and ritles that capture my attention. Thankfully there is an extensive collection available online via Overdrive with a useful set of filters. It's not the same, but it'll do fine for those of us with reliable, fast internet and appropriate devices. Since the US has prioritized corporate profits and billionaire creation over infrastructure and equal access for all people to the necessities of modern life like healthcare, housing, food, water, clean air, and the internet, 2020 has been a year where the Bezos got richer and the poor got nothing but disease and police brutality, many children will have gotten neither education nor enrichment. What could possibly go wrong?

Which reminds me, tomorrow November 3rd is the last day to vote in the US. If you haven't yet, please take the opportunity to vote, and take your friends and neighbors with you. Be like Paul Rudd and take cookies and share with others in line.

Public library copy, because socialism is responsible for most of the good things in society

[Isabel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you up for a whale of a good time? (Sorry, I couldn't help myself there!) Whaley Whale is part of Chris Raschka's Thingy Things series and it's definitely a fun option for children from birth to 3 years old. In the book, Whaley Whale is hiding somewhere in the house and it's up to the reader to find her. She is a silly, likable, and obvious whale and her size definitely limits her hiding options. Kids will love looking for Whaley Whale behind and under the various objects in the house. This would make a perfect companion story to Edward Gibbs' I Spy Under the Sea due to the content of both books and their shared search-and-find themes. It would also be fun to pair it with the song, "Baby Beluga."

[forthefamilyssake Hailey White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 2 star for me, but I'm giving it 3 stars because my 2 year old daughter wants to read this all the time! She likes to answer the questions aloud and I think it is simple enough for her to fully understand.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Raschka is known for his ability to get to the essence of things with minimal words and deceptively simple illustrations. He's hit the mark again in this new series that, frankly, should be board books. They're perfectly aimed at babies and toddlers who will want to read them again and again, and even these sturdy paper pages won't stand up to enthusiastic use. Where is Whaley Whale? Is she on the table? In the basket? Behind the door? Youngsters get a nice introduction to prepositions as they giggle with the knowledge that Whaley is under the chair. Swoopy illustrations, and the chortle-worthy concept of a whale hiding in the house make this a winner for the intended audience, who have been known to play the hiding game themselves.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps because of the small size, I thought that the "Thingy Thing" series by Chris Raschka was a board book series. It isn't. And I'm okay with that. I am. Picture books can come in all sizes. Whaley Whale is one of the books in the series. Whaley Whale is the heroine. She is playing hide-and-seek. It's the reader's job to "find" her.

The book is so very simple. It alternates between questions and answers.

"Is Whaley Whale on the table?"
"No Whaley Whale is not on the table."

For young children, this might be a good fit. It's simple. It's colorful. There isn't a lot of text--or story for that matter.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whaley Whale's hiding and it's up to you to find her! This is one of my favorites in this series. I like the places the reader is encouraged to explore and there are many opportunities for audience participation with this story as listeners are provided with many chances to yell out "no" and finally "yes" when Wahley Whale is found. So cute, very simple (fun illustration paired with simple text), great for sharing with the toddler crowd. Love this series of books, they crack me up!

[Nicole Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple, interactive book for young children. Delightful illustrations and fun premise of hide and seek with a cute and playful whale. I adore this book and I'm looking forward to picking up the others in the series.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a seek and find book that is good for very young children. It has a feel similar to Goodnight Moon because the larger picture is broken up into smaller sections throughout the book as we search for Whaley Whale. Cute.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I love the Thingy Things series for the littlest ones! This is one of my favorites, because it's all about hide-n-seek. Even though the book itself is small, the art and text are large enough for a group read-aloud. Toddler heaven!

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch book is perfect for sharing with 0 - 3 year olds.

Is W.W. ON the table? No?
Is W.W. IN the basket? etc.

It's like a game of peek-a-boo hide-n-seek in a book.

The format is small for use in a group setting. Consider making flannel elements.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a simple picture book for a beginning reader. I would use this book inside a kindergarten small group setting. I don't personally like this book but students can benefit from it especially those that are challenged in the reading area.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Silly. Might be good for littles for storytime?

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whaley Whale is hiding, can you find him?? A fun interactive picture book with adorable illustrations for little kiddos with even littler attention spans, or for fledgling readers.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for little hands. I think it would be fun to read with a 2-3 year old.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whale plays hide and seek in this short easy to read book. Appropriate for preschool and early readers.

[Jeana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wonderful for very young children that are becoming familiar with words and meanings. It has wonderful illustrations.

[Eija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where is Whaley Whale???

Thingy Thing books by Chris Raschka are so simple and lovely and funny and weird.

We read them over and over again.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for teaching positional words. I also like the pattern of endings in this series.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Where's Spot, this early reader is delightful while still accessible for early readers.

[Brooke (i blog 4 books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute! Simple pictures and words. Perfect for babies and the shortest of attention spans!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the book size were bigger--it's great for a toddler storytime, but it's smaller size might make it hard to use w/ larger audiences.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully simple.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for my son's reading time.

[Little Champs]

3021

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 2/2

A great short read for the toddlers.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022 storytime theme: Hide and seek

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Elizabeth Wyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where is Whaley Whale hiding?

[Cyndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is Whaley Whale hiding?

[Ecl Storytellers]

ADORBS. Too small for most storytimes though.