Beluga Sky

Winky Deveze
Cork Hill Press (2005)
ISBN 1594083169
Reviewed by Susan Pettrone for Reader Views (10/06)

“Beluga Sky,” by Winky Deveze, is a charming story, seen through the eyes of a small child and told as only a child can, with simple, frank language and innocence. Through the pages of this book, we follow the path of a whale as it “swims” across the sky, blocking the sun and generally having fun.  The uncomplicated sentences, with their predictable rhymes and easy rhythm, both engage and entertain even the youngest of listeners. And the uncomplicated, childlike illustrations complete the circle by adding both to the charm and appeal of this book as well.

“Beluga Sky” is a book that is both loveable with its innocent questions and naïve observations, and is engaging as well. Winky Devese delivers, within this book, a wonderful glimpse of the world through the innocent eyes of a child and Keith Stewart’s illustrations are warm and inviting to children of all ages, helping bring to life, the words within its pages.

As the mother of two sons 8 and 13, I am pleased to report that both found this to be an amusing, delightful book.  Even with his teen preference for books obviously more mature than this, my oldest commented that he thought the imagery was “cool, and the story well told.” And as the book came to its end, my youngest commented, “the boy saw the whale with his imagination, and his mom saw the cloud with her eyes….”  Somehow, I know the reader will want to read this book with the imagination of a child as well, in order to fully appreciate it as we did.  For it is imagination added to the story within “Beluga Sky,” that truly makes it come to life.

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