I Love You, Blue

by Barroux

An introductory tale about the impact plastic waste has on the ocean is told through a lighthouse keeper's friendship with a whale named Blue.

Aren't the blue waters beautiful? But when a storm hits, the waves roar and rage. Mayday! Mayday! Can anyone help?

One rescue leads to another in this charming story of friendship, revealing that care for the ocean and its inhabitants can lead to the well-being of all. With joyful simplicity, I Love You, Blue introduces the impact of plastic waste in the oceans and includes an author's note with facts about how whales and their habitat can be protected.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Conservation, Nature, Animals, Environment, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2022

About the author

Barroux is a Paris-based illustrator whose work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and elsewhere.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this book put me off a bit, it looks like it will be about fishing but there is nothing about that.

Although the story or the illustrations didn't blow me away, I loved that this was about a child caring about what is happening in the ocean. A boy meets a whale who is full of plastic bags. He decides to speak out about what is happening to the ocean and the sea creatures.

I appreciated having a few simple facts in the back about small steps we can all take to help our oceans.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Cute Children's book that I read with my twin boys. My boys love the little boat in this book. I really love that message in this book. I also found this book's pictures. I love the characters (the little boy and the whale) in this book. This is a really cute and fun book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Flyaway Books) or author (Barroux) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

TI VOGLIO BENE, BLU è una storia illustrata bellissima, piena di amore e dolcezza, ideale per parlare di amicizia ma soprattutto di inquinamento dei nostri mari e salvaguardia del mondo marino. Con testo in stampatello maiuscolo. Da 4 anni ❤ https://ilmondodichri.com/ti-voglio-b...

#tivogliobeneblu #babalibri #barroux #stampatellomaiuscolo

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artist Barroux takes on yet another environmental issue in this lovely book - the tons of plastic filling our oceans, and the horrifying effects all this trash is having on sea life. In this sweet story, a boater is saved from drowning by a friendly whale. And then, it is up to him to return the favor.

The illustrations are simple, yet very evocative.


We are left with this powerful message - Save our oceans. Save our whales.

A treasure for readers of all ages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for the chance to enjoy this wonderful book.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love You, Blue is a charming story about the friendship between a boy and a whale with beautiful, yet simple, colorful illustrations . It contains an important message that is geared to young children about the hazards of plastic waste in our environment, specifically in the oceans. “Save our oceans. Save our whales.” At the end, the author offers suggestions on minimizing the use of plastic containers as well as suggested websites to learn more about saving the whales and protecting our environment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, sweet book about being conscious of the effects our plastic waste has on the ocean environment and saving the whales. The illustrations were fun and colorful. A great book for young children.

[Bridgen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our 1,000th Book Before Kindergarten 😭

[Ainun Zahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love You, Blue is a poignant portrayal of life endangering effects plastic pollution has on marine life. When our little sailor caught in a storm yells for help, a friendly whale named Blue comes forward and saves his life. This act of kindness sparks a heartwarming friendship. One day Blue disappears without any prior notice. His disappearance prompts his little buddy to dive underwater to find his friend's whereabouts. He discovers that Blue is gravelly sick as he swallowed plastic waste from ocean mistaking them as food. This time the boy comes to Blue's aid and gets rid of the plastic bags ensuring a better environment for his friend. The book serves as a gentle reminder that living beings are interconnected and interdependent. So we should refrain from causing harms to beautiful creatures with whom we share our beloved Earth. The story takes a strong stand against plastic pollution and raises awareness in a tender way in less than 50 pages. The illustrations are vibrant and adorable. My heart is so full right now. Heartiest thanks to Netgalley and Flyaway Books for providing me an E-copy in exchange of honest and unbiased opinion.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Love You Blue is a very good books to help teach children the importance of keeping our oceans clean for all people and sea life.
The illustrations were a perfect match for wordings in the book.
Thank you NetGalley, Barroux and Flyaway Books. This is my personal review.

[Ria]

Vuurtorenwachter Jonas vaart zijn rondje op een rustige zee. Hij houdt van de zee. Tot op een dag het weer omslaat en torenhoge gitzwarte golven zijn bootje laten omslaan. ‘De zee kolkt en woelt.’
Hij drijft in zee en zijn rode bootje zinkt. Jonas roept om hulp. Gelukkig is daar walvis Blauw. De walvis redt Jonas en ook het bootje neemt hij op de rug. Ze sluiten vriendschap en Jonas hoopt dat ze elkaar morgen weer zullen zien.

De volgende dag is de zee kalm en de lucht helder, maar de walvis ziet Jonas niet. Ook als hij Blauw roept, komt de walvis niet tevoorschijn. Als je vrienden bent doe je graag iets voor elkaar. Jonas duikt de diepte in en ziet dat hulp hard nodig is. Blauw is ziek. Hij heeft veel plastic in zijn maag in plaats van inktvissen. Jonas gaat hem helpen. Hij verzamelt alle plastic zakjes, een groot net vol. Zou het nu beter gaan met Blauw?

In mooie aquarelkleuren wordt een verhaal verteld van milieuvervuiling in zee. Je ziet in het water allerhande kleurige vissen en andere dieren zwemmen zoals kwallen of een zeester. Aan het kleurgebruik van de zee is af te lezen of het water kalm, onstuimig of vervuild is. De mimiek van Jonas, walvis Blauw en zelfs van de vissen wordt weergegeven door een enkel lijntje waardoor emotie is te herkennen. De enorme berg plastic tassen die je ziet als de walvis zijn mond opendoet spreekt tot de verbeelding van jonge kinderen. Het geeft de ‘plastic soep’ goed weer die er in een oceaan drijft. Oplettende kleuters zien ook op eerdere spreads plastic tussen de vissen zweven. Deze beelden geven opening tot een gesprek over afval en het milieu, maar ook over vriendschap. In het nawoord geeft de auteur een toelichting en tips om zeeën en walvissen te redden. De enkele terugkerende details in de illustraties maken het af.

Het verhaal wordt in korte duidelijke zinnen verteld. Tekst en beeld zijn goed op elkaar afgestemd.
‘Blauw, ik hou van jou’ is inmiddels in vele talen uitgegeven. De Nederlandse vertaling uit het Engels is van Irene Kunst. Een tekst die kinderen goed kunnen begrijpen en bij herhaaldelijk voorlezen zelf zullen herhalen.

Een boek met een boodschap. Om walvissen en alle andere zeedieren te beschermen zal de zee opgeruimd moeten worden en schoon moeten blijven. Door Jonas’ actie wordt getoond dat het helpt om plastic op te ruimen. In werkelijkheid kunnen we niet zo eenvoudig plastic uit de dieren halen, maar we kunnen wel helpen door plastic van de stranden of andere plaatsen op te ruimen.
Het einde is hartverwarmend en laat zien hoe groot vriendschap in eenvoud kan zijn.

Niet alleen goed in te zetten tijdens de Kinderboekenweek 2022, ook bij andere projecten m.b.t. flora en fauna, milieu, oplossingsgericht denken en vooral vriendschap. Vanaf ong. 4 jaar.

[Debbie Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, delightful book about the seriousness of plastics in the ocean. A young child goes out alone on his boat when a sudden storm appears. Yelling "May Day," the child is rescued by a large whale, named by the child, Blue. (Blue Whale....) A friendship, especially on the part of the child, develops, but he worries when he cannot find Blue.

By deep sea diving, he finds Blue, looking a little sick. When Blue allows the child in his mouth, the child sees all the plastic items inside the whale, and removes them while reminding the whale that jellyfish are better for breakfast than plastic. When the child returns, calling for Blue, Blue happily jumps up out of the water. The story ends with a message about saving our oceans and whales.

This book is for young children. It is basic with simple illustrations. At the end, there is an information box from the author, Barroux, about plastics in the ocean with websites to contact for more information. There is also basic info about ways to reduce plastic use that even young children can comprehend. One of the sites given is The Monterrey Bay Aquarium which has wonderful educational materials and I would think this would include videos.

As a teacher, I am asked by NetGalley if I would use this book in a classroom. Definitely, this book should be in schools. There is so much a teacher could do with young children to teach more about pollution in the oceans. Also, for a child to comprehend the true size of a Blue Whale, they can be compared to a school bus. With a knotted rope, a teacher could mark the sizes of various other animals, including other sea animals, and let children hold the knots at the differing sizes. They can better grasp the sizing of animals that way. There are also wonderful videos where the children in a classroom could see a whale breaching, which is what Blue does at the end of the book. As a proponent for the teaching of environmental concerns, I think this book should be included in Pre-K through second grade classroom libraries.

I did receive this book through #NetGalley and #Flyawaybooks. #ILoveYouBlue

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE YOU, BLUE is a simple and sweet story of a friendship between whale and human. A lighthouse keeper ventures out in their boat each day, but one day, the water is rough with a storm and the boat capsizes. When they call out for help, a whale answers and saves the boat and their life. The whale is named blue, and the lighthouse keeper cannot wait to see them again.

However, the next day, Blue is missing. When the lighthouse keeper goes to find Blue, they learn that Blue is ill - the whale has eaten too many plastic bags. The lighthouse keeper removes all the trash and tells Blue to eat jellyfish instead of bags, making the comparison in appearance. The next day, the lighthouse keeper worries again, but luckily, Blue is still doing well. The end of the book includes some backmatter about the importance of keeping the oceans clean.

With a brief writing style and evocative illustrations, this is a simple story that conveys an important message of environmentalism and the need to clean up the oceans. The relationship between the lighthouse keeper and whale is very sweet with a clear connection and quick emotional investment, despite being sparse on words. While the effects on the whale could be scary, there is a rapid resolution with a message of cleaning up the trash that will resonate with young readers.

A simple and sweet story of environmentalism and friendship, I LOVE YOU, BLUE is a poignant and evocative picture book that will work well for toddlers on up.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy sets out for a sail on the ocean but quickly the skies turn dark and he is in danger. A whale comes along and helps him to safety and he pledges to come back and see the whale, Blue, again.

When he returns, Blue is nowhere to be found. When he swims to the bottom of the ocean he finds Blue feeling sick because his stomach is full of plastic bags. The boy knows he must save Blue and sets about to make him feel better. Thus, one rescue leads to another and a sweet friendship between a boy and a whale is formed.

This simple story with water-colored illustrations teaches us the impact pollution has on the ocean and its inhabitants. Seeing a whale’s stomach full of colorful plastic bags made my own stomach turn as I think of the thousands that must be floating along in the ocean. Since they look like jellyfish, the whales eat them and then find they are in trouble. No matter if you live near an ocean or in the middle of nowhere, the plastics that we discard can still find their way into streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. We are all contributing to the problem and we can all be part of the solution.

Barroux leaves a list of simple instructions in his author’s note at the end of the book. Just start with one thing, drinking water from reusable containers, and you are already making a difference.

[mad mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: I received a free ARC for review through Library Thing's Early reviewers program.)

-- 3.5 stars --

A little boy takes his dinghy out on the open sea when's he's beset by a storm. Though his boat capsizes, he's rescued by a ginormous whale (a stand-in for them all: blue, humpback, sperm, you name it) who he nicknames Blue.

Every day, he looks forward to greeting Blue - until the one day when Blue is nowhere to be found. Alarmed, the boy dives into the water in search of his friend - and finds Blue laying listless on the ocean floor. Turns out that Blue swallowed a tummy full of plastic (a breakaway from the Pacific trash vortex, maybe?) and needs help flushing his system - and cleaning up his ocean home.

I LOVE YOU, BLUE is a charmingly illustrated children's book (ages 3-7) with an important message about pollution, environmentalism, and the interdependence of life. The final page contains a note from the author, "Save our oceans, save our whales," that educates kids about plastic pollution and what they can do to help stop it (which is well meaning, and certainly age appropriate, but also relies a little too heavily on personal responsibility at the expense of corporate accountability. No, I don't have any children; why do you ask? ;)

[Daniele Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple, yet adorably delightful tale with powerful messaging about the importance of protecting the oceans.

A little boy is sailing the seas. He loves the blue color of the ocean. But sometimes the ocean is dark and stormy. During one of those storms, he is rescued by a whale. A whale named Blue. The little boy wants to see his friend again, but Blue is nowhere to be found. So the little boy searches for him, diving down to the bottom of the sea, where he finds Blue feeling sick. Blue has a stomach full of plastic bags. So the boy gathers them up and Blue feels much better.

The text is simple and easy to read, but the message is critical. Our oceans are dying and the young will inherit this planet. They must learn to care for it and protect it. This books is a wonderful way to introduce this concept of saving the whales and the oceans, caring for the environment, cleaning up beaches, reducing plastic waste and instilling a deep love for the sea.

The illustrations are simple but eye catching and captivating just like the message is.

A must read and a must have for home and for classrooms too.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love You, Blue

Sometimes help comes out of the blue.

This is a poignant story about a little boy caught in a storm; when “the ocean roars and rages” he cries for help and is rescued by a whale named Blue. One day when Blue does not come, the child dives into the ocean to find him. When Blue opens his mouth to say “AAAH”, the boy discovers a “belly full of bags”, which the child works to haul away, rescuing the whale in return.
“Save our oceans. Save our whales.” is the final message, and the author concludes with a page that offers suggestions on minimizing the use of plastic and a list of websites to extend learning and action.

The charming illustrations are simple and sweet; the text is spare and authentic as it gently conveys the importance of caring for the earth and all living things, particularly ocean creatures threatened by plastic pollution. The blues of the whale, the ocean, and the earth subtly reinforce the interconnectedness of all things.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of I Love You, Blue by Barroux from Blue Slip Media, Barroux, and Flyaway Books in exchange for an honest review.

This beautiful picture book is told in such a simple yet impactful way. A young sailor is out in the ocean when a storm tosses him into the deep ocean. A whale, Blue, saves him and the sailor promises to return to his new friend the next day. The next day, the sailor has trouble finding Blue and when he does, he finds his new friend sick. He soon finds that Blue has a collection of plastic bags in his stomach that is causing the problem and the sailor seeks to save his friend. In these colourful illustrations and simple yet impactful texts, a story quickly unfolds and ends with a strong message to save the oceans and save the whales. This is such a great story for readers to start the discussion and learning about plastic pollution and its dangerous impact on the whales and sea life.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute story is all about a boy and his new friend from the ocean, Blue.

Blue is all down and truly blue, and the boy seeks out to find why Blue is so... blue.

It's a story of friendship, caring and protecting animals and our planet.

It contains an important message that is geared to young children about the hazards of plastic waste in our environment, specifically in the oceans.
Grocery bags, being the main thing in the whale's mouth, was so sad to see, as I know it’s the tragic reality.

As a society, we need to do better about plastic waste (and other materials) and actually place trash where it belongs: which is a trash bin, a dumpster or, better yet, RECYCLING!!
NOT THE OCEAN!

As cute as the cover is, it is definitely a little deceiving as to what we're diving into, but overall this is a very important book, with a cute and easy way of talking about a serious subject with our young ones.

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully simple illustrations and a crisp, clear message. Each page feels framable to hang on the wall of a nautical themed scandi nursery. At it’s heart, this is a story of friendship and caring for someone and being curious if they are okay. Showing young readers that the care we have for friends and creatures we meet can extend to the whole ocean of whales and our whole planet, is done in a quiet and impactful way. Without going into a place that feels manipulative or sour, the message here is kind and warm and gives us more to consider outside of the book. Wonderful, quiet tale with a large impact, this picture book has a moral message in a sweet package. A nice introduction to eco care and the potential environmental impact of kindness.


Note: This book was reviewed from an advance digital reading copy from the publisher, but we have also purchased a copy for our studio library.

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day a little boy is out sailing when a storm comes and threatens to wash him away. A whale saves him, and the two become friends. When the boy discovers plastic pollution, he realizes it's up to him to save the whale in return.

I just started reading a much more grownup story about plastic waste, and while I appreciate knowing the science, the research, and the details, I love the way I Love You, Blue sums up plastic pollution in under 500 words, yet it made me care. Plastic waste is one of the biggest problems humanity has ever faced, in conjunction with related and dependent concerns, and I am so glad that authors like Barroux are giving children the framework to understand this at a very young age. Hopefully together we really can save the whales (and our planet along with them).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet picturebook and a very good introduction to the damage we place on the creatures of Earth with our waste. Jonas is a lighthouse keeper who seems to love his work. One day, he sets off in his boat only to have it capsize in a storm. Who should come to rescue him but a great whale named Blue. Jonas adores his new companion but when he searches for Blue the next day, he is nowhere to be found.
Diving (with hat still on) deep into the ocean, Jonas discovers Blue looking ill on the ocean floor. He has swallowed hundreds of plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish. Returning the favour of being saved, Jonas removes all the waste and Blue is well again.
A very simple ecocritical picturebook that even the youngest reader would pick up on. I enjoyed its fantastical elements which are pitched so well at that youngest of readers.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the images in this book, they really bought the story to life

I read the book with my five-year-old daughter and she loved the story but it also made us feel a little sad about what is happening and what could have happened if Blue hadn’t been found

The book was written simply so she was able to read the book herself with a bit of help on a few of the trickier words but she loves being able to read the stories herself

It is 4 stars from me for this one, I thought it was a fab little story, highly recommended and I hope books like this will continue to encourage people to recycle, use less plastic and protect the environment and the creatures in it, we always do what we can at home and when we are out – it’s the little things that count when they are all added up to make a big impact

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a sailor's boat sinks in a storm, he and his boat are rescued by a whale! The whale's name is Blue. The sailor looks forward to seeing Blue again, but on his next trip out to sea, no Blue. He discovers that Blue is sick because of all the trash in its belly.

I Love You, Blue is a simple story to demonstrate the problem of plastics in the ocean. Like Pinocchio, the sailor was able to walk around inside the whale and do something about the trash. Includes an author's note, ways we can help, and a list of volunteer organizations' websites. AJ liked the message of taking care of our oceans, and loved the illustrations - Blue is usually just the huge front of the whale, and it's remarkable how Barroux can put so much expression in 2 dots (eyes) and a line (mouth).

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I totally dug the whole friendship thing between the boy and Blue. It was super heartwarming. They had each other's backs, which was adorable. But, here's the thing, sis – I found the story a tad too simple for my liking.

I mean, Blue saves the day by rescuing the boat from a raging storm, and then the boy turns superhero by pulling out all those plastic bags from Blue's belly. It's a cool message about the whole ocean plastic issue, which we all need to be aware of, but I was expecting a bit more depth in the plot.

The silver lining, though, is that there's some extra info at the end of the book about this whole plastic problem. It's like a little bonus knowledge snack. So, props for that!

Overall, it's a decent read tackling an important topic, but it didn't quite make it to my list of faves. Maybe it'll float your boat more than it did mine.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this sweet picture book with an important message, a young sailor in trouble in churning waters is saved by a big blue whale. The grateful sailor promises to visit the whale again the next day. After having trouble locating the whale, the sailor finds the whale deep in the water and feeling unwell. The sailor discovers that the whale’s belly is filled with plastic bags. He removes the bags, returning the favor to the whale. The story centers kindness and the importance of environmental stewardship. With its beautiful pictures and minimal but effective text, this will be a wonderful and accessible introduction to caring for the earth for young readers.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

the boy and his boat have a mishap on the ocean. A great whale hears his cries and saves the boy. The next day the boy finds the whale is ill and discovers that the problem is all the plastic that was swallowed. This time it is the boy who does the saving by removing the plastic. At the end there is a page for adults to read with anyone who will listen to the need to save our fish and oceans by stopping the use of single use plastics. Excellent! The artistry of the illustrations is simple and puts the sentiment in greater position.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Flyaway Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barroux tells the story of young boy, Jonas) who loves the sea and sailing upon it, and in particular, the whale that inhabits the water. When the whale does not appear he dives into the sea and finds a very sick whale. He enters the whale and discovers a belly full of plastic bags which he removes, and the whale recovers. Although the story is implausible, the telling is whimsical with minimal text to express Jonas' thought and bold and expressive illustrations. The message is brought home with the boy’s diagram comparing a floating plastic bag with a jellyfish. Barroux provides factual information and practical advice to encourage children to protect whales and other sea life.

[Alex Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cute story is all about a boy and his new friend from the ocean, Blue. Blue is all down and truly blue and the boy seeks out to find why Blue is so Blue. It contains an important message that is geared to young children about the hazards of plastic waste in our environment, specifically in the oceans. Grocery bags, being the main thing in the whales mouth, was so sad to see as I know it’s reality.
As a society, we need to do better about plastic waste and actually throwing away trash where it goes, which is a trash can or a dumpster. NOT THE OCEAN!
As cute as the cover is, it is definitely a little deceiving.

[Emily Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really lovely, cute book on the surface, but it tells a really important story. It is all about plastic pollution in the oceans and the damage this is causing to sealife. It also discusses simple changes we can make to reduce plastic waste. With minimal words, the beautiful, simple illustrations really help to tell the story and emphasise the dangers of plastic waste. I think this book is a must-read for all primary ages, as although it is simple, the message it portrays can be explored in much more detail by older children.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Flyaway Books through NetGalley.
Barroux message, "Save our oceans. Save our whales," comes through clearly with little text and lovely watercolor illustrations. This little boy is saved by Blue the whale when his boat sinks. In turn, he saves Blue when he swallows a huge number of plastic bags. The story introduces young readers to protecting the environment and wildlife from the waste humans toss away. It's a sweet story that can be looked at from several levels of development and plant seeds for the future.