THEREADINGCHAIR
Whale Song: The True Story of the Musician Who Talked to Orcas
By Zachariah Ohora. 2024. Tundra Books. 48 pp. Ages 4 to 8.
This is the compelling true story of two men named Paul— one a scientist and one a flutist— who learned to communicate with orcas through music. Musician Paul Horn and his sons, Marlen and Robin, often visited the orcas Haida and Chimo at an aquarium where they lived in British Columbia. There, Horn worked with Dr. Paul Spong to explore how orcas communicate. Through their work, they and many others came to see how much orcas suffered in captivity. The story weaves in strands that will resonate with readers, from the flutist’ s fear of the big animals to his sons’ love of visiting them at the aquarium. Clear, concise text is paired with appealing color-block illustrations. This wonderfully nuanced book can be used as a jumping-off point for many different conversations, including asking children about their own relationships with animals( pets, wildlife, zoo creatures) and how they communicate with them.
The Man Who Didn’ t Like Animals
By Deborah Underwood. Illus. by LeUyen Pham. 2024. Clarion Books. 40 pp. Ages 3 to 7.
This winning book gets off on the right foot with a winning title. Who wouldn’ t want to learn more about a man who didn’ t like animals? Inside, readers find an excellent progressive story about a persnickety man who likes a neat home and not animals. When a cat appears at his door, he declares he doesn’ t like cats but then finds he and the cat have some common interests( they both like sleeping in the sun, watching the rain, and eating dinner at precisely 6:00 p. m.). More animals follow( dogs, ducks, chickens, goats, and more). The story contains an inventive twist: The neighbors want the animals gone. But the persnickety man has fallen in love with them and moves with them to a farm. Thus, the Old MacDonald we all know is born.
Underwood and Pham are both experienced talents who combine forces to great effect. The text is well-paced. The illustrations are lively and fun and full of expression, particularly the many facial expressions and body language of Old MacDonald. Don’ t miss the clever endpapers and the front and back cover hiding under the dust jacket. This book offers a wonderful way to expand upon the Old MacDonald song and to consider how and why someone’ s preferences can change.
About the Authors
Isabel Baker, MAT, MLS, is the founding director of The Book Vine for Children, a national company dedicated to getting good books into the hands of preschool children and their teachers. Isabel has worked as a children’ s librarian and is currently a presenter on early literacy and book selection.
Miriam Baker Schiffer, MFA, is a writer in Brooklyn, New York. She consults on book selections for The Book Vine, in McHenry, Illinois. Miriam’ s children’ s book, Stella Brings the Family, was published by Chronicle Books in 2015.
Copyright © 2025 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See Permissions and Reprints online at NAEYC. org / resources / permissions.
96 Young Children
Summer 2025