Julie Case

Emma and the Whale tells the story of a brave girl and her dog Nemo whose special relationship with the sea near her home lead her to rescue a beached baby whale. Emma and nemo visit the beach all of the time to explore tidepools, watch sea creatures from the dock, and splash in the surfs. Emma dreams that she could go back in time to stop the whaler who used to hunt along the coastline. One day, as she and Nemo play on the beach, she spots a baby whale stuck on the shore. As she works to show more free the whale, Emma discovers that it can speak to her telepathically. With hard work and the help of the rising tide, Emma is able to push the whale back out to sea to reunite with its mother.

I picked this book selfishly since I am also named Emma. Other than the magical whale telepathy, this book could almost be considered realistic fiction. This was a quick read that was full of heart. Emma's passion for the ocean and her love of its creatures is admirable. My favorite parts of this book were the lovely watercolor illustrations by Lee White whose use of muted colors add to the misty and magical tone of the story. I'd rate this book a 4 out of 5. show less

beautiful illustrations take us to the ocean where Emma rescues a baby whale.