I LIVED INSIDE A WHALE

A child who finds the world too noisy decides to live inside a whale.

During what appears to be a sibling’s birthday party, an Asian-presenting child with two spiky pigtails hides out in another room reading a book on whales, a “Do not disturb” sign hanging nearby. Inspired, the child fashions a small boat, tapes a drawing of a whale head to the wall, and sails into the whale’s gaping mouth. Inside, it’s dark and quiet, “just the way I preferred.” But a shrieking boy, who also appears to be Asian, rolls in from the party on a skateboard, bringing with him “everything I was running away from.” The loud boy and the narrator make a deal: After he’s quiet for half the day, the narrator will then acknowledge him. As promised, the narrator entrances the boy with stories of all kinds as the art shifts from more muted blues to bright colors and whirlwinds of fantastic landscapes. In a poignant moment, the narrator reveals the reason for being in the whale: to “hear my own voice.” This gives the boy an idea, allowing for a return to the real world with his new friend. Cozy artwork visually depicts both the cacophony of the world and the young narrator’s flights of fancy. This is a gentle, relatable story about a child with sensory sensitivity finding a way to forge connections with others.

A sweet, contemplative tale of friendship and discovering one’s voice.