Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea. (Narwhal and Jelly Book). Ben Clanton. Toronto, ON: Tundra Books, 2016. 64 pp., trade pbk., hc. & epub, $10.99 (hc.), $16.99 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-10191-871-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-10191-826-5 (hc.), ISBN 978-1-10191-827-2 (epub). Grades 1-4 / Ages 6-9. Review by Kay Weisman. ***1/2 /4

excerpt:

One day when Narwhal was out for a swim, he found himself in new waters.

Whoa! What are you?!
Me? I�m Narwhal the narwhal!
A narwhal?
Yep! Unicorn of the sea!
Are you real?
Last time I checked. Are you?
Am I what?
Real!
Um � yeah, I�m a jellyfish.
Jellyfish? Hee hee! That sounds funny!
You�ve never heard of a jellyfish?!
Nope! You don�t look like any fish I�ve ever seen, but you do look kind of jelly-ish. I sure have an amazing imagination.
I can�t believe this! The thing I�m imagining is imagining that it is imagining me.

Clanton�s latest is a graphic novel introducing two sea creatures: Narwhal, Unicorn of the Sea, and his new best friend, Jelly. In three short chapters, the two meet in the ocean and become friends, form a pod with several other sea creatures, and create a story starring a waffle and his strawberry sidekick that confront an evil robot. Interspersed between the chapters are sections that provide fun facts about narwhals and jellyfish and a Narwhal song.

     Clanton�s simple line drawings eschew most background details leaving Narwhal and Jelly front and center in most panels. The use of a limited colour palate (blues, greys and occasional yellow accents) also helps to focus young readers� attention on the characters and their expressive faces. Narwhal and Jelly are particularly childlike and appealing�they both like waffles, parties, and adventures�and the text is succinct, appropriate to the intended audience. This makes Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea a great addition to the early comics shelf; a sequel, Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt, is promised for 2017.

Highly Recommended.

Kay Weisman works as a youth services librarian at West Vancouver Memorial Library and chairs the Children�s Literature Roundtables of Canada�s Information Book Award.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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