About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
Waiting for the Whales illuminates the unique friendship between grandparent and child and celebrates the restorative power of the natural world.
An old man lives alone on a bluff overlooking the sea, tends his garden and waits. Only when the whales return each year to the bay in front of his cottage is his loneliness eased. Until, one day, an unexpected visitor arrives. Originally published over thirty years ago, this award-winning picture book is sure to enchant a whole new generation of readers.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 3 to 5
- Grade:
- p to k
- Reading age:
- 3 to 5
Awards
- Commended, Today's Parent's 100 best Canadian kids' books of all time
- Commended, Today's Parent's Best Canadian Kids Books list selection
- Winner, International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Canada Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award
- Winner, IODE Book Award- Toronto Chapter
- Winner, The National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award
- Winner, Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award
- Winner, IODE Book Award - Toronto Chapter
- Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Our Choice
- Winner, The Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks) - Young People’s Literature Illustrated Books
- Winner, CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
- Commended, CCBC Our Choice
- Winner, Governor General's Literary Award - Illustration
- Winner, Canadian Library Association (CLA) Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
Editorial Reviews
"The gentle, distancing tone is reflected in softly detailed color-pencil art, with careful compositions and dramatic shadows...Poetic and comforting."
— Kirkus Reviews
"A delicate and beautifully executed book."
— Canadian Literature
"This beautifully written, sensitive story reflects on an important relationship between young and old...This text is skillfully enhanced by the accomplished artwork of Ron Lightburn...Twenty-five years later this enchanting book has been republished, proving that it is a classic appealing across the generations. It should be welcomed once again on the shelves in school libraries and classroom collections."
— Resource Links
"Written in precisely cadenced prose, McFarlane's story about the cycles of life--while not a new theme--is so deftly handled that it becomes genuinely moving."
— Publishers Weekly
"Waiting for the Whales, a multi-award winning (for both author and illustrator) picture book, was described as 'timeless' when originally published in 1991. Twenty-five years later, it lives up to that praise, remaining very much a story for today. The premise, setting, themes and illustrative style still inspire in this classic story written from the heart…Be sure to add this gentle but captivating story to your picture book collection. Waiting for the Whales will remain a favorite to reread for generations to come."
— CM Magazine
