Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Playful, kind story of a whale's song has life lessons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SOREN'S SEVENTH SONG, a young humpback whale is tired of the boring, monotonous songs the adult whales sing and wants to make a snappier, more fun song of his own. So Soren takes his great ideas, works for several hours, and presents his new masterpiece to his friends. They hate it. One even vomits a little. But they're nice about it, so he tries again, and again, removing and adding maracas and drums, changing the melody, and performing for the eels to test it out. With each version, Soren feels a little better, and his friends soon have other feedback on his snappy song.
Is It Any Good?
There's remarkable depth to this playful story, showing young readers how to be both honest and compassionate, and reinforcing the idea that persistence pays off. Soren's Seventh Song is relatable; readers of all ages have likely been faced with both giving and receiving tough feedback about something they've created. Author Dave Eggers (The Eyes and the Impossible) is a master of witty words, and this story is full of heart and fun to read. Mark Hoffmann's colorful, energetic illustrations are a perfect match. This is a great read-aloud for classrooms or families, and can spark lots of great conversations about how to support friends while being honest, and how to respond to honest criticism in healthy ways.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how they've reacted when a friend asks for an opinion, like in Soren's Seventh Song. What have you said when a friend makes something you don't really like? How did it go? Would you do anything differently next time?
What are some ways you can persevere and feel better if you get some negative feedback?
Do friends always have to be honest with each other? What does that honesty look like?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Mark Hoffmann
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harry N. Abrams
- Publication date : February 6, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 56
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate