Dario and the Whale

PreS-Gr 2—Every spring, Dario and his mom move from Brazil to the beach at Cape Cod so that his mom can work. Dario is having a hard time making friends, not quite knowing how to join in the sandy fun with the other children. He is thrilled to see a young whale one day, swimming off of the coastline. The whale is also very curious about the boy. An immediate bond is formed, and the two visit daily, communicating with whistles, spouts, waves, and breaches. One day, Dario gets the sniffles and his mom orders him to bed until he is well. He is worried that his whale will have migrated before he gets to see him again, but Dario gets his chance to say goodbye. Set in sunny Cape Cod, this bright and colorful picture book is sure to catch the eye of its readers. The deep blues, greens, and yellows of the land and sea perfectly capture the warmth and happiness of the beach in springtime. The text is interesting but spare. One will gather many of the finer details of the story from the summary provided on the cover flap. Dario often speaks Portuguese, and readers will be introduced to words and phrases in the language. At the end of the story, Malone tells of her real-life encounter with a baby right whale. She also provides a wealth of information about these whales.