Not Quite Narwhal

Kelp we are told, was born deep in the ocean and looks remarkably similar to his friends–similar that is, yet different. There is this odd (but charmingly drawn) bubble around his head, and his body isn’t shaped exactly the same way as everybody else’s. He doesn’t like the same foods and doesn’t excel at the same things his friends do either. The great thing is though, nobody cares! His friends, all narwhals, love him just the way he is. One day, Kelp gets caught up in a current that takes him far away from his narwhal friends to a land where he discovers others, unicorns, who look and act just like him. They also embrace him and teach him everything they know. Kelp now has a choice. Does he stay with the unicorns or go back to the narwhals? You’ll be happy to know, Kelp embraces both his identities, and, lives happily ever after. Sima’s illustrations are elegant and, dare I say sweet. I usually loathe to use the word sweet because it kind of sticks in your mouth and leaves that sugary aftertaste. But not Sima’s illustrations. They invoke a warmth that leaves you feeling secure and in your happy place. As if by magic (because I know it’s really hard work and talent), she bridges the gap between traditional and modern illustration blending the styles and creating vivid images that are soft, welcoming, yet slightly edgy. Her use of lighting (see image below) is particularly striking. Aimed primarily at the four to eight-year-old crowd, this book is going to stay on my bookshelf for a long time. There is much to unpack in it and many levels to analyze. Different is good, self-acceptance is good, acceptance of others is good, all of these themes are packed into a sweet, never before told story. And, as the child grows, the allegories can grow with the child; from a simple story of accepting a child who is different (race, color, nationality, creed, etc.) to a broader story identity and self. By the way, there is a special surprise on the end papers of this book. I don’t want to give it away, but it does involve a rhinoceros.

Got this book for my 6yo niece for Christmas (yeah I shop early hehe) and it is adorable with a wonderful message. Very few words on pages which have them and when the characters speak their talking is done in speach bubbles the way a comic book would do it while the 'story' part is handled like comic book narration. The images are every bit as sweet and whimsical as the cover art and that cover is pretty typical of the level of detail you can expect. The message or lesson of the story is very simple and ignores all the complexities we adults know exist--the people who love you already love you for who you are but you can still love new friends too. Additional messages you can point out are how brave little Kelp (the protagonist) was, how it was alright that he did not like some foods which he still had to eat, that he worked hard and did not give up when I was trying to learn something new and that he thought about his problem then came up with a solution which helped everyone.

Not Quite Narwhal begins with a dazzling cover that glitters and sparkles. Inside, a harmonious blend of brilliant colors depicted in soft hues portray an enchanting array of creatures and places: rainbow fish and silver-white jellyfish, flitting through a pale blue sea; round white eyes, floating in the darkness of night; and vibrant butterflies flitting over jade colored fields. Kelp is a darling unicorn with his turquoise hair, bubblegum pink nose, and spotted rump. Whether he's wearing floaties in the sea, leaping like a frog on land, or splashing around beneath a rainbow, Kelp is the cutest not-quite-narwhal. His journey is visually gratifying as he ventures from the cozy, lavender confines of the shell he lives in beneath the sea to a sun-dappled forest. He treks through a moonlit night with twinkling stars, to a rainbow laden field where butterflies flit and flowers sprout in red and pink, yellow and purple. After his sojourn on land, Kelp is confronted with a difficult question: "Did he want to be a land narwhal with the unicorns . . . Or a sea unicorn with the narwhals? Kelp couldn't decide." Touching on identity and fitting in vs. standing out, Kelp is the perfect role model for learning to love oneself and appreciating that our individual traits make each of us unique and special. With a heartfelt message, ravishing illustrations, and a sprinkle of humor, Not Quite Narwhal is a must have.

When I was a mother of a very young child in my mid-30s, I started reading picture books with stories to my son when he was about 4 months old. The first time we read a story picture book, we only made it to page 2 ;-). However, we perserved and soon we were able to enjoy a whole picture book story together. In fact, reading a picture book with mom or dad, squished In a big comfy chair, became a favorite activity. My son's taste in books to be listened to (versus books to be chewed on) was for stories with some physical action on the part of the characters, some silliness, and a little bit of repetitive text (like the chorus of a song). He's grown up now so I cannot test this picture book on him anymore but I think that toddler would have like this book. Kelp is a sweet character. His narwhal family are loving. His land based unicorn friends are loving. And there is a happy ending. The last picture is fun, showing all kinds of activities being played. There's food in the story too, another good thing. I could read this five times in a row to a toddler, no problem ;-) !

"Not quite Narwhal" es una historia muy tierna acerca de aceptar y ser aceptado a pesar de nuestras diferencias. Las ilustraciones dan un toque alegre y humorístico a la historia, y es un nuevo favorito en nuestro hogar.

So cute, so pretty and such a good message. Every kid will be happy to know the story. Mine is.

Superbe livre, avec des illustrations pleines de tendresse. Et un beau message délivré à la fin. Parfait pour la petite histoire du soir. Facile à comprendre et à expliquer à son enfant (Même pour des personnes ne parlant pas couramment anglais car les illustrations parlent d’elles même) :). Jessie Sima est une illustratrice de talent ❤️!

Great book at the same price as local stores.

I gift not quite narwhal to all the little loves in my life. Such a beautiful message. The first time I gifted this it was for a little boy in my preschool class moving to a new town, this book told the story of the little narwhal making new friends in his new home, but always feeling loved and welcomed where he came from.