Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Faust
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Informative, exciting intro to tusked whales of the Arctic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The life of a rare sea creature is explored in NARWHAL: UNICORN OF THE ARCTIC. The opening sentence sets the stage: "You are a narwhal—shy, swift, small (for a whale)." From then on, in the text and illustrations, facts emerge about their tusks and tusk behaviors, breathing and blowholes, fishing and feeding (cod and halibut are favorites), echolocation (clicks are essential to their survival), seasonal migration, the pod, caring for young, and dangers (orcas, polar bears, and entrapment under ice). The book shows different fish and other mammals that live in the narwhal habitat. Central to the story are the extreme conditions of the Arctic: shifting ice, changing seasons, and harsh weather. Two pages at the end of the book expand on what is covered in the main body of the book. There is also a bibliography of suggested reading.
Is It Any Good?
With lyrical writing and dramatic art, this stunning picture book asks readers to imagine what it's like to be a rare sea creature engaged in a life-and-death struggle for survival in the far north. Using the second-person tense, there is added suspense as glossy pages reveal "your" unique adaptations and challenges in Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic. Will a group of orcas find you? Will a hungry polar bear eat you for sustenance? Can your tusk poke through packed ice to make an air hole? Bold and cold, the digital illustrations impart information about narwhals and establish a sense of place. They also set moods of menace and majesty. The foldout pages vividly suggest the depths of their feeding grounds. Based on careful research, the book presents the narwhal within the context of an extreme environment, covered by shifting ice, changing seasons, and harsh weather. This is an exemplary informational picture book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic and think about what animals need for survival. What do humans need for survival?
The male narwhal has a long tusk. How is that tusk used? The tusk can be regarded as a long tooth. How do you use your teeth?
How do narwhals use echolocation? How do their rapid clicks help them? What senses help you get around? How do you communicate?
The illustrations in this book show a blue and watery world. What colors would you use to show your world? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Deena So'Oteh
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals ( Ocean Creatures ) , STEM
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Anne Schwartz Books
- Publication date : October 28, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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