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The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A Two-Hundred-Year Journey in the Arctic
This sweeping nonfiction picture book The Whale Who Swam Through Time explores the 200-year lifespan of a bowhead whale and the changing environment that surrounds her.
Almost 200 years ago . . .
Our journey begins with the birth of a bowhead whale, the longest-living mammal in the world. Over the course of her life in the Arctic, the bowhead whale witnesses many from an era of peace and solitude to one of oil rigs and cruise liners.
With gorgeous, detailed, and striking illustrations, this well researched and thoughtfully curated nonfiction story captures the magic and beauty of the natural world, while also providing a thoughtful account of how humans have impacted our changing ecosystems and a call-to-action for protecting the environment.
A 2023 OSTB Selected Title
Almost 200 years ago . . .
Our journey begins with the birth of a bowhead whale, the longest-living mammal in the world. Over the course of her life in the Arctic, the bowhead whale witnesses many from an era of peace and solitude to one of oil rigs and cruise liners.
With gorgeous, detailed, and striking illustrations, this well researched and thoughtfully curated nonfiction story captures the magic and beauty of the natural world, while also providing a thoughtful account of how humans have impacted our changing ecosystems and a call-to-action for protecting the environment.
A 2023 OSTB Selected Title
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2022
1 person is currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 20, 2022
A fantastic book! I loved reading this story about the life of the bowhead whale - the baby whale together with her mother, that span over 200 years. It's interesting that bowhead whale's whole life are in the cold Arctic waters. It's also interesting how the whales are so big but the foods that they eat are so small. It's sad to learn about the practice of whaling. Also sad when people started moving in and setting up massive oil drills with oil rig's machinery, cargo ships, and submarine's sonar which makes loud noises. Whales communicate through echolocation and these human sounds confuses the whales. Today is more challenging for the whales due to global warming and garbage in the ocean. I can't help but have love for the whales reading this story. The illustrations were beautiful! I just loved looking at the illustrations. This nonfiction book is intended for readers ages 4-8. I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Read for my toddler's bedtime. Thank you MacKidsBooks for the opportunity to read and review.
(I am taking a break from blogging. Too time consuming so my reviews will be a lot shorter than before and less structured. I still have my Instagram account at Howusefulitis if you want to see pictures of the book.)
Read for my toddler's bedtime. Thank you MacKidsBooks for the opportunity to read and review.
(I am taking a break from blogging. Too time consuming so my reviews will be a lot shorter than before and less structured. I still have my Instagram account at Howusefulitis if you want to see pictures of the book.)
June 10, 2022
Whales are my favorite animal so I had to get this book to read with my daughter! The bowhead whale has the longest lifespan of any mammal in the world. This book takes a look at the world through the life of a bowhead whale and it is fascinating. You get to travel in time to learn about how the Arctic has changed and how Earth has changed over the course of two centuries. The book is sad and hopeful at the same time. The illustrations are beautiful and help tell the story of these whales. If you want to learn about a unique creature, make sure to pick up this informational book!
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
October 2, 2022
Loved this information book! I was not familiar with bowhead whales nor that they are the longest living mammals. Illustrations show changes to the arctic over the 200 years while the text gives the reader information about this whale’s life.
July 22, 2022
This children's non-fiction book is perfection. Well written, beautiful illustrations, and a very important message. It also hurts my heart, thinking about what we've done to the oceans.
November 26, 2022
Stunning illustrations and a unique premise, take the reader along with a bowhead whale through the past 200 years as she experiences the changes to the ice in her Arctic home, as well as the incursion of boats, whalers, oil rigs, pollution, submarines, and noise. It is at once gorgeous and very sobering. Includes an author's note and additional information about whales and other Arctic animals.
November 23, 2024
Canadian scientific illustrator Alex Boersma and American paleontologist Nick Pyenson, who is the Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, join forces in this gorgeous picture book examination of the bowhead whale. Beginning two hundred years ago, the poetic narrative and beautiful illustrations follow one bowhead whale as she makes her journey through life, watching the world around her change. From the days of sailing ships to those of high-powered submarines, the whale grows, has children and watches the Arctic slowly transformed, becoming progressively noisier and warmer. Despite these developments, the narrative assures us that the bowhead is a survivor, swimming through uncertain waters...
The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A Two-Hundred-Year Journey in the Arctic is the first picture book from both Boersma, who is co-author and illustrator, and Pyenson, but I certainly hope it will not be the last! Informative and engaging, it profiles a very long-lived species, something that is in and of itself quite fascinating, providing an emotionally resonant narrative and a more fully factual section of back matter, about bowhead whales as well as some of the other Arctic animals around them. As Boersma observes in her author's note, the long-lived bowhead provides a unique entry into the idea of ecological change in the Arctic, over two centuries. I loved the idea of this book, its striking title, its engaging narrative, and its beautiful artwork, created using watercolor, gouache and colored inks. I also appreciated the fact that while the book gives an honest look at some of the damage done by human activity to the Arctic, it doesn't close on a despairing note. In sum: highly recommended to picture book readers and audiences who love whales, ocean life, and books about changing ecosystems and the changing world (sometimes not for the better) around us.
The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A Two-Hundred-Year Journey in the Arctic is the first picture book from both Boersma, who is co-author and illustrator, and Pyenson, but I certainly hope it will not be the last! Informative and engaging, it profiles a very long-lived species, something that is in and of itself quite fascinating, providing an emotionally resonant narrative and a more fully factual section of back matter, about bowhead whales as well as some of the other Arctic animals around them. As Boersma observes in her author's note, the long-lived bowhead provides a unique entry into the idea of ecological change in the Arctic, over two centuries. I loved the idea of this book, its striking title, its engaging narrative, and its beautiful artwork, created using watercolor, gouache and colored inks. I also appreciated the fact that while the book gives an honest look at some of the damage done by human activity to the Arctic, it doesn't close on a despairing note. In sum: highly recommended to picture book readers and audiences who love whales, ocean life, and books about changing ecosystems and the changing world (sometimes not for the better) around us.
December 22, 2022
For more bookish thoughts, see my blog: Craft-Cycle
A captivating journey that shows how one whale, and the world, can change over the course of 200 years.
Boersma and Pyenson beautifully capture a portion of a bowhead whale's life, from learning from her mother, avoiding whalers, and raising her own calves, to the new challenges she faces in a busier and noisier ocean.
Beautifully illustrated. Boersma artwork shows the magic and beauty of the underwater world as well as the dangers of newfound threats.
Additional information is included in the backmatter such as how bowheads feed, the world's four bowhead populations, their anatomy, and how they communicate, as well as a section on other arctic creatures.
A wonderful read, especially for those interested in nature, animals, and environmentalism.
A captivating journey that shows how one whale, and the world, can change over the course of 200 years.
Boersma and Pyenson beautifully capture a portion of a bowhead whale's life, from learning from her mother, avoiding whalers, and raising her own calves, to the new challenges she faces in a busier and noisier ocean.
Beautifully illustrated. Boersma artwork shows the magic and beauty of the underwater world as well as the dangers of newfound threats.
Additional information is included in the backmatter such as how bowheads feed, the world's four bowhead populations, their anatomy, and how they communicate, as well as a section on other arctic creatures.
A wonderful read, especially for those interested in nature, animals, and environmentalism.
July 14, 2022
**Thank you to MacMillan in connection with School Library Journal's Picture Book Palooza for the review copy. This in no way changed my opinion**
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about both the lifespan of a bowhead whale and the impact people have had on their arctic habitat. It imagines seeing the world change over time as the whale gets older and humans advance in technology. I think this book would be a good introduction for kids into discussing both whales and the way we can try and fix the harm we've done as we move forward. There's a nice authors note in the back. Would recommend!
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about both the lifespan of a bowhead whale and the impact people have had on their arctic habitat. It imagines seeing the world change over time as the whale gets older and humans advance in technology. I think this book would be a good introduction for kids into discussing both whales and the way we can try and fix the harm we've done as we move forward. There's a nice authors note in the back. Would recommend!
February 2, 2023
The Whale Who Swam Through Time a 200-Year Journey in the Artic Written by Alex Boersma & Nick Pyenson, Illustrated by Alex Boersma. Beautiful watercolor, gouache and colored inks create an inviting watery arctic world readers will be drawn into as the story of our bowhead whale is brought to life. Starting two hundred years ago we follow the birth and growth of our bowhead whale friend through the technological and environmental advancements of the time. Author’s note and back matter includes additional information on bowheads as well as other arctic animals. Overall a beautiful story readers of all ages will enjoy. Ages 5-adult
January 19, 2022
I have read other stories about whales who have lived for centuries, as I am sure you have, too. But what makes this book so wonderful is the illustrations. The story is nice, not overly pushy but gets the point across, but when it comes to the art, that is where you can see how things move along, how they change and how the story might end someday. They are rich, lush and a perfect match for the text. They are detailed in ways that mean you have to read them, too, you cannot rely on text alone to tell the tale of this creature.
July 3, 2022
hardcover with dustcover complimentary copy from raincoast books in exchange for my honest review.
48 pages of beautifully illustrated text. Telling the challenges of a whale growing from a baby through to an adult with children of her own. I found it very interesting observing the changes in what she faced. The illustrations more than the words really tell the story. I love books that have so many talking points to use with children.
the information presented at the close of the book rounded out the information presented in the rest of this picture book.
48 pages of beautifully illustrated text. Telling the challenges of a whale growing from a baby through to an adult with children of her own. I found it very interesting observing the changes in what she faced. The illustrations more than the words really tell the story. I love books that have so many talking points to use with children.
the information presented at the close of the book rounded out the information presented in the rest of this picture book.
October 11, 2025
gorgeous and poignant. capturing the rapid and wide-scale changes humans have brought on long-lived creatures is always a challenge, but this book does a wonderful job. gently informative and educational with both the story's content and the informational notes at the end of the book, but the stunning art of the main story is really where this book shines
i have a lot of feelings regarding artic/antarctic life and humanity's effects on such delicate ecosystems, and wow does this book just hit me right where all those feelings live
i have a lot of feelings regarding artic/antarctic life and humanity's effects on such delicate ecosystems, and wow does this book just hit me right where all those feelings live
February 21, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced electronic review copy of this beautiful book. This great book, suitable for elementary students, combines well-written nonfiction, beautiful illustrations, and an author’s note with additional information into a wonderful look at one of the biggest arctic animals — a bowhead whale. Important topics of conservation and global warming are clearly inferenced throughout the book. This is a wonderful addition to any nonfiction library collection.
July 21, 2023
Cool concept. Bow-head whales can live up to 200 years in the cold waters of the Arctic, so imagine what life would have been like when a whale that's alive today wad born 200 years ago. The illustrations are beautiful, and the book ends with an invitation to care for the oceans and protect the whales.
At four, this book was a good fit for M. I think four is about the youngest age you'd want to read this book, and the message would easily speak to older children.
At four, this book was a good fit for M. I think four is about the youngest age you'd want to read this book, and the message would easily speak to older children.
October 22, 2023
Not sure if we can consider it "straight" nonfiction, since none of us can interview a bowhead whale about her feelings, and the mention of the Arctic warming being any kind positive gave me pause. But overall, a good presentation of how humans have changed the environment and informative backmatter to extend learning.
August 12, 2022
I find most stories about whales are a complete bummer because there's either the whaling industry to contend with or climate change. This one was no different. But I did learned about this long-lived species of whale.
Read for Librarian Book Group
(Hidden cover!)
Read for Librarian Book Group
(Hidden cover!)
December 15, 2022
Bowhead whales live about 200 years and this book traces the world and ocean changes from the birth of a bowhead calf 200 years ago to today. Pay special attention to the sound bursts underwater and how they've changed over time. There are seven pages of great backmatter, too.
June 27, 2025
A very sweet story of a whale that brightens everyone’s day through song and gets the same love in return when the friends find a singing partner for the whale. A great message about the power of kindness and positivity.
July 14, 2022
4 stars for this beautiful informational imagining of the life of a bow whale
I read a digital advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher
I read a digital advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher
July 15, 2022
Incredible, important, and beautiful.
July 24, 2022
Fascinating read!
August 9, 2022
Although beautifully illustrated, this book was confusing and lacked needed details.
August 10, 2022
Thanks Erin!
August 22, 2022
Beautiful!!!
October 6, 2022
Interesting discussion starter for older students also
November 14, 2022
Interesting read. Following the long life of one whale, this picture book is a good introduction to the whaling industry and climate change. A good discussion starter on humans' impact on sea life.
January 23, 2023
Adults will like this just as much!!
February 19, 2023
I did not know anything about the Bowhead Whale before reading this beautiful book, and now I’m frustrated about their loss of habitat in the arctic.
June 13, 2023
A clever pretext to help children understand the changes in the Arctic over the past 200 years, and to convince them to care about the next 200 as well. Terrific back matter as well.
July 6, 2023
Fascinating journey spanning 200 years or so, of a bowhead whale who witnesses many changes in its environment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews