"A boy and his father stand on a cliff and watch a pod of orcas swim by. Their conversation is simple, as the man tells his son some things about the animals, and the youngster observes and asks questions. The prose is brief and poetic, sometimes even rhyming, and draws a lovely picture of a few majestic moments when a parent and child make a connection with one another and with another species. The illustrations flow across the pages with color and beauty, realistically portraying the world of both species. A concluding page about orcas will answer questions that may arise, from physical attributes to communication, and touches on what is not known. A lovely read for storytime, and a nice introduction to nature studies." -School Library Journal"As striking as orcas themselves, Davis's (The Jolly Mon) paintings of gamboling whales . black-and-white beauties, showcased against clear, aqua tones, glow with Davis's almost reverential touch.

Realistic and sharp-edged as a photograph, his illustrations rise to the text's imagery with steamy breaths reminiscent of a snow drift, and a gracefully composed 'kite-tail string' of pelicans, yet his artwork conveys a deep respect. [A] thoughtful offering to ardent whale lovers." -Publishers Weekly"From a seaside cliff, a boy and his father observe killer whales in Bunting's poetic ode. 'They're orcas, every one,' the boy's father explains when they spot five animals frolicking in the distance. 'They may have come from colder seas / where icebergs float and break. / Icebergs, blue-white and polished by the sun.' Davis's realistic illustrations show father and son up-close. He switches perspective in the next spread, zooming in on the whales spraying misty fountains from their blow holes; back on the grassy ledge, the humans are rendered small.

The boy's questions spark discussion and Bunting embeds plenty of information in her verse, especially when she flips points of view, allowing the whales themselves to tell part of the story. For unadulterated information, and an in-depth explanation of concepts touched upon in the text, readers will want to head straight for Bunting's backmatter. The real draw here, however, is Davis's true-to-life depiction of these magnificent creatures and the sea they inhabit, making this a satisfying introduction to ocean life and a good starting point for further research." -Kirkus Reviews.