Blankie

Narwhal and Jelly Board Books

by Ben Clanton

The underwater duo think of all the amazing things they can do with Narwhal's beloved blankie.

A big, yellow blankie is one of Narwhal's favorite things; not only because it keeps Narwhal warm and cozy, but also because it's not just a blankie. Narwhal can fold it into a hat, wear it as a cape (or a dress!) and even use it for a picnic with a best bud, like Jelly!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Animals, Juvenile, Fiction, Storytime

22 pages, Board book

First published February 2, 2021

About the author

Ben Clanton is the author/illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly series as well as a number of other books as IT CAME IN THE MAIL, MO'S MUSTACHE, and TATER TALES. When Ben isn't doodling up stories (and often when he is) he likes to cook, explore outdoors, and play basketball. Ben lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and kids. Find out more about Ben at www.benclanton.com.

Reviews

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

Narwhal and Jelly are favorites with my group - this is a new offering from the author. Cute, about the versatility of the proverbial "blankie."

Indeed. The kiddos liked it, but it was too short, and said the youngest from his perch on couch - "that's for babies."

Indeed. We have no more babies. (He was the last, and just pronounced himself out of that category. ;-})

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, sorta-rhyming book about all the things you can do with a blankie. A must for young Linus Van Pelts every where.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to this board book's release for a while, and enjoyed it very much. It keeps Narwhal's and Jelly's personalities vivid and identifiable despite the story's simplicity, and the book explores the creative uses that the characters can find for a blanket. This is a cute concept book for thinking outside the box, and the illustrations are very striking, without any background clutter to distract from the characters' expressive interactions.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narwhal and Jelly explore all the uses of a blankie---as a tissue, a hat, a flag, and more---in this gentle story of imagination and friendship. The text is written in rhyme and the illustrations are big and happy. And it's written with a huge amount of kid appeal.

[Tully North · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t like yellow

[Abby Johnson]

This is a super cute board book featuring beloved characters Narwhal and Jelly. This would be a great pick for younger siblings of Narwhal & Jelly fans who want to copy what big sib is doing or to encourage older sibs to read to younger sibs. It's a short story, but with the same cute factor and energy that the comic books have.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHHhhhhhhhh. Too cute. Narwhal and Jelly are personal favorites and this board book just adds to the appeal. The reader gets their dose of N and J, but this time it rhymes and the story is the perfect length for ready to bed reading.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

So utterly adorable. Loving this very quick series by this author.

[Maria Logan-Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blankie, by Ben Clanton, is an adorable little book for very small children. It’s a
board book that is perfect for tiny fingers.

This book does a wonderful job of showing children how things can serve many purposes, as well as how they can be shared. Main character, Narwhal, shows his buddy, Jelly, how his blanket can be a flag, a tissue (eww), a bag, a superhero cape, a costume, and can even be spread on the ground for a picnic. Then, wonder of wonders, it can wrap cozily around the two of them.

There are so many wonderful books for children that teach valuable lessons while providing hours of entertainment for little minds. This is one of them.

What made The Grumpy Book Reviewer grumpy?
Not a thing! I suggest this adorable picture book for your favorite preschoolers. They will love it, too, and you will have such fun reading it too them while they enjoy the beautiful illustrations.

[Janique Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on Narwal and his favorite blankie. He goes on to explain that it is so many things such as a hankie to blow his nose in. He also uses it as a hat and we see him wearing it like a witch's hat. He also uses a stick to make it a yellow flag. And when he ties it up, he turns it into a bag. His jellyfish friend then chimes in saying it could be a picnic spot. It can even be worn as a cape Narwhal said, or a dress! In the end, Narwhal said he loves it the most because both he and his friend can share it. I enjoyed the rhyme scheme of this book and how they rhyme every last word together on the pages. I also like they art style and how it's a new school type of art with what looks like comics.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Narwhal and Jelly series so when I saw there were board books with the characters, I had to read them.
I read this one after reading Bubbles and I think I like this one better. For one thing, the rhymes come through better (I didn't really noticed that the first one rhymed at all).
I also love how they use their imaginations to explore the different things the Blankie can be. I also got mad Elephant and Piggie vibes from this book, especially the ending.

Really adorable!

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-galley from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this. So much. It’s an absolutely adorable board book for very early readers written and illustrated by the talented Ben Clinton, with the dynamic duo that is Narwhal and Jelly. In this board book, these best friends are discovering all the different uses that Narwhal’s blankie has. It is a fun and creative read to share with young children. Absolutely adorable.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested and received this book from Ben Clanton and Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a super cute book about Narwhal’s blankie and all the amazing things it can do or become. I loved all the rhyming text and it is Narwhal and Jelly in a board book, who doesn’t love that?!?

[Rebecca Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narwhal takes a yellow cloth and uses his imagination for a wide variety of cloth transformations. I liked how this one rhymed, and a parent could practice emphasizing the first word with the child attempting to figure out that second word. Their friendship makes me think of Piggy and Gerald, so I love these characters (almost) as much.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet little board book encourages imagination when Narwhal explains to Jelly all the fun things his blankie can be. Best of all, Narwhal's blankie is big enough for two, so he can snuggle with Jelly. The rhyming text is cute, with little jokes and fun back-and-forth playfulness, and the illustrations are adorable.

#NetGalley

[Shandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is mostly a cute board book about imagining things with the help of a blankie... but I really, really wish the first thing Narwhal did with the blanket was not to sneeze into it! The whole rest of the book I kept thinking they really should've washed it before doing anything else, ew. (I know, it won't bug kids... but it totally bugged me, especially in this day and age. )

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jelly meets up with Narwhal, he is impressed by Narwhal's big blankie. But Narwhal is more impressed with all of the things that his blankie can become: a tissue, a hat, a bag, and many other things.

A cute board book inspired by the Narwhal and Jelly series. A good choice that's all about imagination to share one-on-one.

[Kelli Koeppen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️. A cute and imaginative book that has two friends using their imagination to the fullest. This is my first Narwal and Jelly book and I was impressed enough to consider looking at more of them.

I liked the ways that imagination and creative thinking and kindness are celebrated all within the form of a yellow blanket.

[Dorothy Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful choice by the Dolly Parton book club, with cute illustrations of a narwhal and a jelly fish and their creative uses of narwhal's yellow blankie. With yellow as the predominant colour and a
current favourite colour of this reader's 18 month old grandson, this is a fun read. Easy to imitate ideas.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Narwhal loves playing with his blankie, but there's one thing he loves most about it that makes Jelly extra happy.

Highlights: Simple, easy to understand pictures that don't distract from the story.

Lowlights: Jelly kind of has an attitude at the beginning.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you remember all the things your 'blankie' was to you? I remember mine being a cape, a screen and a 'raft' I would lay on the floor (because there were sharks in the water)! This book will take you back to all the things your 'blankie' was to you AND you can read it to a small child who will make up their own utilitarian uses for their 'blankie'!

[BlackhamBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really cute. I picked this up at a library sale for my LFL and gave it a quick read before putting it in. I'm not familiar with Narwhal and Jelly, but can see there are others (non-board books). I really enjoyed the little rhymes here, adding to the pattern and pace, and imagining what might come next. I'm sure this would have added meaning to any one who has a special blankey as well.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Narwhal has a blankie, but a blankie can be so many things when you just use your imagination.

A cute story with some easy-to-replicate motions for storytime usage with a scarf or a blanket (particularly during virtual storytime). No prior Narwhal and Jelly knowledge required.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narwhal and Jelly have fun imagining all the things a blankie can be.

A cute little rhyming adventure of imagination. (Well, except for the hankie part. I'm with Jelly on that one. Ewww!) See if littles can imagine other things a blankie can be.

[Yentl ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a super fan of Narwhal and Jelly and these board books are so cute!! This has all the usual silliness and great ideas on how to use your blankie. It is a cute and quick little story that's perfect for little ones.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5, though I wouldn't like children to think a blanket could be a handkerchief. Also I think it would be better as a picture book than board book. I think the board book discourages older readers.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagination lets Narwhal and Jelly think of many different things that a large blankie can be.

Rhyming text (although some of the rhymes aren't great -- dress and best, for example).

Relatively few words per page, so this works even for young ones who are wiggly.

[Cassandra Villanueva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blankie is a creative story about the many in which Narwhal finds use of a simple blanket. I loved that it provided the reader with imagery, following along in the creativity of the main character in a easy-to-read format for emerging readers.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A funny board book featuring Narwhal and Jelly and all the things you can do with a blankie.

[Cheriwinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would’ve thought that there were so many wonderful uses for your blankie? Thanks, Ben Clanton, for a wonderful board book for the youngest fans of Narwhal and his friend Jelly.