'Bleak was the day and the wind whipped down, when I and my sisters walked to town...' So begins the story of three sisters and their wild and magical encounter with a whale, stranded on a beach.
Jane Tanner’s artwork in this stunning picture book is as beautiful as Sarah Brennan’s rhyme that carries us through, the rhythm of each verse a tantalising glimpse into the experience of the three girls on a stormy day. It shows nature as a source of wonderment and awe but also of destruction and fear. Yet once the storm is weathered with courage and care we see the good that has come from it, the difference a caring nature can have on the world around us, no matter how desperate the situation may seem and ultimately that the actions of each one of us matter.
There will be much to talk about within the pages. The illustrations vary from black and white to full colour and complement Sarah Brennan’s wonderfully poetic voice perfectly. ~ Shelley Fallows
Bleak was the day and the wind whipped down, when I and my sisters walked to town..
So begins the story of three sisters and their wild and magical encounter with a whale, stranded on a beach. With illustrations full of light and movement, a powerful text that reads like a ballad, children and adults alike will be transported to beachside holidays of long ago, feel the wind in their hair and taste the salt spray, as the girls battle against huge odds to save something precious and vulnerable. The artwork moves from black and white to full colour and is expansive and nostalgic. Both author and illustrator are passionate about the natural world and environmental issues and see the book as a way to encourage others to care.