Connecting mysteries in sea and space, Davies . . . and Teckentrup . . . bring a sense of awe to this elegant picture book study of male humpback whale songs. Onomatopoeic narration emphasizes the enigmatic allure of a whale’s intonations . . . and amazement infuses a scientific description of the whales’ pattern-led replication of the tune. . . . Amid luminous images of the whales swimming and breaching, spongy texturized mixed-media illustrations in cobalt, cerulean, and azure blues depict the notes of a song as varied colored starry bursts linked together, mirroring the text’s metaphor of a beaded necklace. . . . a stirring spotlight. . . .
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Davies and Teckentrup blend scientific wonder with visual storytelling. . . . through Teckentrup’s exquisite mixed-media illustrations . . . readers experience a virtual immersion into a vibrant world one hundred feet below the ocean’s surface. . . . The free-verse, lyrical text . . . underscores the melodious subject.
—The Horn Book
The cadence of the text is smooth and even, and the author’s enthusiasm for the subject is clearly apparent in the vivid language and bountiful facts offered up. . . . The marine mammals’ sleek, gray forms are collaged against a variety of aquatic shades and textures; some dappled, watercolor-like scenes are infused with a light airiness, while others are richer in tone and saturation, defined by thicker lines. . . . this focused, informative book is a worthy addition.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books