BABY BALLENA

Gundersheimer—an award-winning children’s musician who performs under the name Mister G—follows a young gray whale on her first migration.

Though Juana was—literally—born yesterday, in the warm waters of a Mexican lagoon, she’s ready to meet the world. As she and her pod head north toward Alaska, where they’ll spend their summer, she observes rocky mountains, landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, and animals including bears, walruses, dolphins, and seals. Dangers lurk, too, from orcas to big ships. Guided by her ever-watchful mother, Juana grows bigger and stronger; arriving in Alaska, the whales are ravenous (“I can eat a thousand shrimp. Good thing I have a big mouth!”). She knows it’s time to head south again when the water in their summer home turns icy. When the whales arrive in Mexico once more, Juana meets her new baby cousin, José, and the cycle starts anew. Bathed in a calming glow, Almada Rivero’s inviting illustrations depict Juana as a wide-eyed, curious youngster with a winsome smile, surrounded by equally cheery-looking animals. Soothing, upbeat text presented in both English and Spanish makes for a comforting read. A few basic facts, mostly related to whale size and diet, are gently woven in (“I drink fifty gallons of milk a day”), though Gundersheimer doesn’t delve too deeply into the topic; additional information is included in the author’s note.

A satisfying account of an endearing young marine mammal’s first forays into the world.