Through the Darkening Sea

The circle of life is depicted in this story of a dying whale as it slowly descends through the depths of the ocean to its final resting place. Then the life it gives to other species through food and subsequently back to more whales.

The vocabulary used is rich with a plethora of adjectives and verbs while also introducing a range of fish species not widely known. When reading the text aloud there is a subtle cadence along with the sweeping flow of art that you become immersed in the feeling of falling. Then darkness takes over the art at the bottom of the ocean only lightening at the end when new life appears.

My only reservation about this book is the appeal ,or not, of the whale dying, while it is a fact of life it might be confrontational to young readers.