Shh! The Whale Is Smiling [Hardcover]

Josephine Nobisso (Author), Maureen Hyde (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000 | Age Level: 2 and up

While the rest of her family sleeps, a young girl takes her little brother—whom she knows will be frightened by the windstorm raging around their seaside house—on an imaginary voyage with his favorite animal, the humpback whale. The bed lifts and the waters welcome them as they embark on an undersea odyssey to swim and breach with the gentle creature who rocks them gently to sleep in a rumbling, shimmering hammock made of waves.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-- A gentle nocturnal fantasy in which a girl reassures her younger brother with a soothing rhythmic evocation of a free-floating moonlight swim with a smiling, singing whale. This is more of a mood piece than a story. Although at times a trifle sweet, the text's lilting cadence will make an additional bedtime read-aloud. While the loving older sister is a nice touch, some readers might wonder why the children appear to be alone in a big, dark house. The attractive paintings move from the rich golden glow of a candle-lit bedroom to the watery blue-green hues of the sea, making good use of unusual undersea perspectives. It is unfortunate that while the whale and the water are depicted with movement and energy, the children themselves are stiff and awkwardly posed. --Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Delightful. I will be using this one for kindergarten and first grade." -- Jim McKenna, Storyreader, Books Come Alive

"Delightfully written for young readers 3-7. Beautiful full-color artwork showcases this original and memorable storybook." -- Children's Bookwatch; Midwest Book Review

"Gentle, lilting and full of sibling love and adventure, this is a perfect bedtime tale." -- Copley News Service

"Subdued and mystical. A lullaby to soothe and charm." -- The Ephrata Review

Maureen Hyde's beautiful full color artwork aptly showcases this original and memorable storybook fable. -- Children's Bookwatch --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Gingerbread House; Revised edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940112035
• ISBN-13: 978-0940112032
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,939,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Josephine Nobisso's first story appeared in a national magazine when she was 18. Since then, she has published over fifty books, mostly for children.

Each year, to rave evaluations, Miss Nobisso conducts about 100 workshops in "The Nobisso Recommendations: Guiding Students to Write in Their Authentic Voices," part of which comes to life in her book, Show; Don't Tell! Secrets of Writing. a book for which she received "The Global Learning Initiative Award" for "The Best Trade Book with Educational Application"-- a singular citation jointly administered by the Association of Education Publishers and the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

The National Catholic Educational Association named her "Distinguished Graduate," and Delta Kappa Gamma--the international society of honored teachers-- named her "Friend of Education," for "someone outside the profession who has worked significantly toward improving the educational opportunities of others, and who has given outstanding service to promoting quality education."

Among the very many honors that Miss Nobisso books have received are five other awards for Show; Don't Tell! Secrets of Writing: the International Reading Association/Children's Book Council "Children's Choice Award," an American Booksellers Association BookSense "Pick of the Lists" citation, a Parents' Choice Award, a National Parenting Publications Award, and was a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Finalist.

Born February 9, 1953, in the Bronx, Miss Nobisso homeschooled her daughter, Maria Nicotra, the Art Director of Gingerbread House, the press they founded together. Miss Nobisso and her family live on the East End of Long Island.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, June 19, 2000

By 

KATHLEEN E KAIN - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shh! The Whale Is Smiling (Hardcover)

Shh! The Whale is Smiling is a wonderful bedtime story featuring a young girl comforting her younger brother. The beautiful images capture thoughts that pass through children's minds as they fall asleep. The whole story makes possibly scary situations feel gentle and soothing. This lullaby will indeed help your children at bedtime but be prepared - it is one that will be read over-and-over again! From The Science Spiders.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Bedtime Story, December 24, 2000

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shh! The Whale Is Smiling (Hardcover)

As the wind begins to blow upon a sleeping house, a little girl lights a candle and travels down the hall to her little brother's room to comfort him during the storm. She quietly holds him and sends them both on a journey to the sea to meet and swim with a whale. And as her story delights and distracts him from the storm, he relaxes and falls back to sleep, knowing he's not alone..... Josephine Nobisso has written a very gentle and expressive picture book, told in soft, vivid language, that will charm and calm all pre-schoolers. While listening to the story, Maureen Hyde's beautiful and very detailed artwork will entrance youngsters as their own imaginations take them on this wonderful adventure with an amazing sea creature. Shh! The Whale is Smiling is the perfect bedtime story your little ones will want to hear night after night and a great addition to all home libraries.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence, December 29, 2001

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shh! The Whale Is Smiling (Hardcover)

Author Josephine Nobisso and illustrator Maureen Hyde bring enchantment to the play of shadows and wind deep in the night in SHH! THE WHALE IS SMILING. As a fierce wind blows outside their home, a sister comforts her brother turning fear of the cold dark into a warm, safe place of imagination. Flying in their bed to the sea, they join a whale swimming among bubbles in a world of their marvelous creation.

The fear of the dark, wind and storms is gently confronted in this imaginative story for children. The dark becomes deep water, movement the swimming of a whale, and wind a part of the mystery of the sea, thereby replacing the fearful with the imaginative. A delightful tale, with fabulously realized illustrations, SHH! THE WHALE IS SMILING comes very highly recommended.