The Biggest, Highest Wave

by Kerry McQuaide

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Sports

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2025

About the author

I love writing and illustrating stories for kids! 

Stories are fun, but it’s more than that...each book a child reads is a doorway into understanding more about herself and more about the world she lives in.

I want to create those doorways—to laughter,  to learning, to imagined worlds, and most importantly... to connecting with each other.

To connect with me, see stories and drawings in progress, plus receive free books and activities visit my website www.kerrymcquaide.com.

Reviews

[Angela Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

SWEPT AWAY BY THIS BOOK!

Through her incredibly fluid illustrations and sensory rhyming text, Kerry McQuade demonstrates to readers that fortitude and resilience can make a huge ”splash” in situations that seem impossible to conquer. Her main character, a young child, gets knocked down by the biggest, highest wave but manages to gain control through her stamina and courage.
An inspirational story for people of any age, THE BIGGEST, HIGHEST WAVE leaves the reader feeling hopeful and empowered!

[Susanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written and illustrated story of how one small girl revels in the power of nature, accepting that sometimes it may overwhelm, but it's oh, so worth it for the moments when you ride the wave, feeling like you're on top of the world! The lyrical, rhyming text conveys the rhythm of the ocean, and the taller trim size of the book allows for vertical art that lets readers feel the height of the waves and see how proportionately small the littler surfer is. Highly recommended!

[Celia Seupel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this wonderful book for my close friend's granddaughter, who loves it. The themes of courage and adventure come through in stunning, bold pictures and a fun, rhyming story. It's all about a surfer girl who braves the huge waves of Nazaré, a town on the Atlantic coast of Portugal with the biggest waves in the world. There's even a last page that tells a little bit about how the huge waves are formed. What a fun, lovely picture book.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The smallest speck of a girl on a surfboard takes on the biggest, highest waves in this stunning picture book about courage in the face of nature.

The tall size enhances the sense of the height and power of the waves and the strong simple lines of the artwork emphasizes the contrast between the small surfer and the uncaring strength of the waves and the sea.

McQuaide's vigorous rhyming test is packed with action verbs and is a pleasure to read aloud.

Wonderful!

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow a young, nameless surfer as they chase the biggest, highest waves off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, riding down towering walls of water in this rhyming picture book.

I didn’t love this one as much as I was hoping. While I appreciate the book’s message about perseverance and getting up after falling, the rhymes felt a bit uneven and didn’t fully capture the excitement of a surfing adventure for me.

[Acurtis49 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sky, space, and the ocean capture the imagination because they are all more vast than we can perceive. That is the magic of this book. It takes a wave that has near impossible scale and manages to show you both that scale and a human within it. It is a fun adventure which shows that risk is real and reward is possible. Plus I learned something about the world that I did not know!

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that there was as much depth of knowledge about waves as they are wide and high? In a fresh and engaging manner, this book is a both a bit of an adventure and a plunge into fascinating information about those spectacular splashes of water.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible illustrations/design. The height of the book enhances the scale and height of the wave and the spread with the underwater perspective was just perfect. I really enjoyed this simple yet powerful story.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bold illustrations shows a surfer ride The Biggest Highest Wave. The writing makes one feel they are in the moment with the surfer.
Great introduction to surfing and super to read out loud.
The Author’s Note in the back is informative and educational.

[Sophi Kravitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought The Biggest, Highest Wave for two of my friends' kids, and they were immediately drawn into this joyful and adventurous story. The illustrations are beautiful, each page feels alive. The kids asked to read it again, which is always the best sign!

[Jerry Fleisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WAS A TEACHER OF 3 YEAR OLDS AND THEN RAN A PRESCHOOL...I TOOK THE BOOK TO THE
NEW DIRECTOR AND SHE LOVES IT....PALISADES COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL IN CLOSTER, NJ
SHE WILL DO SOMETHING WITH PARENTS TO INCORPORATE THE BOOK INTO THE SCHOOL.
ANNE FLEISHER anne@fleishers.net

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surfer rides an enormous wave. Great illustrations. This is based on a real place...Nazare, Portugal...which has waves up to 80 feet high. The book includes an author's note that explains how waves are formed and what allows Nazare to have such large waves.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ocean ST, Sports ST, Big ST. A surfer rides a very high wave. The text is short and poem like. Nice colorful and bold simple illustrations. Liked that it was a surfer which is not in picture books much.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming picture book written in rhyme with bold illustrations.

[Tine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful!! The colors of the illustrations put you in the water. This is an amazing book for kids to learn about bravery! I love how the author plays with words and rhythm.

[Christopher Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully illustrated exploration of human nature in the face of nature framed for young minds.

Trigger warning: This children's book addresses themes of adversity and perseverance.

[Judy Ripke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned many things about waves in this book, which I wasn't even aware of before reading it. The illustrations do a wonderful job of showing how high, wide,a and vast these waves are.

[Helen Jonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poetic tone matched with the stunning illustrations bring the emotions alive for all ages.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poem about surfing. The poem is strong enough to appear without art. The art is graphic design-y.

[Cara Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story about courage, resilience and the power of the ocean! I loved the format of the book, which suits the subject and illustrations perfectly.