The Children’s Book Review: Which five words best describe The Heart of a Whale?
Anna Pignataro: Hopeful, heart-warming, soulful, magical, comforting.
If you could swim with Whale to any place within the pages of your book, where would it be? Why?
The seahorse page because I think it would be nice to sleep on a jellyfish.
What has been the best reaction from a reader, so far?
For Book Week a wonderful primary school teacher dressed up like a whale and the whole class recreated the book cover. There was a big cardboard whale in the class and beautiful blue paintings all over the walls.
What’s on your nightstand? Any books?
So many books. Just Kids by Patti Smith, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, How To Be Invisible by Kate Bush, Rebecca by Daphne De Murier, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. Also, Saint Rita, Michael the Archangel, and a 1920’s lamp!
For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?
Salt and Coffee
Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?
All of the above plus a feather quill from Venice
Can you tell us one more thing we may not know about The Heart of a Whale, your writing and illustrating style, or yourself?
I interpret dreams, read palms, practically live by astrology and am very superstitious!
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Written and Illustrated by Anna Pignataro
Publisher’s Synopsis: In this beautiful story of kindness and empathy, loneliness and love, one creature finds that the help he needs is just a song and a sigh away.
Whale’s beautiful song winds its way through the ocean, reaching the farthest of faraways. His song is one of happiness and hope, magic and wonder–and Whale’s fellow sea creatures are calmed, cheered, and lulled by it. But though Whale sings his tender song day after day, night after night, Whale wonders why he has no song to fill his empty heart. So when he lets out a mournful sigh, the ocean carries it like a wish through its fathoms, bringing it to just the right place.
Filled with stunning art and poetic language, this poignant story reminds us that being kind and helping a friend in need is sometimes the most beautiful thing of all.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Philomel Books | January 28, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-1984836274
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About the Author-Illustrator
Anna Pignataro is an award-winning and bestselling author who has created more than sixty books for children. Her books have been featured on children’s television programs and are published around the world and in many languages. Anna lives on the beach in Victoria, Australia, with her husband and daughter.
This speed interview with Anna Pignataro, author-Illustrator of The Heart of a Whale, was conducted by Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Cece Bell, Donkey Books, Humorous Books, Picture Book, Sheep, and Valentine’s Day Books. Be sure to follow along with our Speed Interview series, too.