Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic
by Candace Fleming; illus. by Deena So’Oteh
Primary    Schwartz/Random    48 pp.
10/24    9780593377789    $18.99
Library ed.  9780593377796    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780593377802    $11.99

Readers are immediately immersed in the life of a narwhal as the unseen narrator invites them into the narrative: “You are a narwhal— / shy, / swift, / small (for a whale).” Thus begins a glimpse into the seasonal behaviors of these distinctive animals. It is winter, and the narwhal jousts with another male, swims in the leads (nicely defined in both text and illustrations), and dives deep for food. A striking and informative vertical gatefold depicts the near-mile-long fishing expedition, while the text explains that at those depths narwhals use echolocation to find food. As summer approaches, the narwhals migrate as a pod, following the same path they and their ancestors have used before. The shallow summer waters hold dangers such as hungry orcas, but this pod outsmarts them. As the days grow shorter, indicating it’s time to leave, a blizzard temporarily traps the pod under the ice. As in similar books (most recently Polar Bear, rev. 11/22), Fleming does not overdramatize these challenges but presents them as a natural part of survival. So’Oteh’s digital illustrations detail the majestic settings both on the surface and at great depths, while emphasizing the grace of these mammals. Particularly enlightening back matter expands on the text, offering, for example, more detail on jousting, narwhals’ deep dives, and questions surrounding how they will adapt to climate change. Fleming provides a glimpse into the research process, ranging from adapting new advances in technology to partnerships with Indigenous peoples. A bibliography completes this fine book.

From the ">November/December 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.