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Whale, That Was Unexpected

Casey Lyall
Illustrated by Kathryn Durst
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Whale, That Was Unexpected

Casey Lyall
Illustrated by Kathryn Durst
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Overview

STAFF PICKCANADIAN3-5 YEARS48 PAGESENGLISH
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  • Appropriate for: Ages 3-5 Years
  • Published date: Jun 30, 2026
  • Language: English
  • No. of Pages: 48
  • Publisher: Tundra Book Group
  • ISBN: 9781774883617
  • Dimensions: 10.5" W x 0.47" L x 11.25" H
A July/August 2026 Kids' Indie Next List Pick

"Whale, That Was Unexpected is a seriously fun picture book collaboration between author Casey Lyall and illustrator Kathryn Durst. . . . Lyall's spirited text. . . . and the intricate art give this story a plethora of potential to become a story-time favorite." —STARRED REVIEW, Shelf Awareness

"This readaloud will unite any group of kids into a boisterous ship’s crew with its rowdy repetition and intertextual dialogue, and sailors less self-possessed than Maude will also be glad to know this twosome survives to sail the seas again." —STARRED REVIEW, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Stand aside, Pinocchio. There’s new whale bait in town, and she’s got her own kind of flair." —Kirkus Reviews

"Art and text work delightfully together, each expanding the other, to create a sea story with attitude well suited for a lively read-aloud." —The Horn Book

"Digitally enhanced charcoal-and-gouache art embraces the dark and drippy setting and offers a perfect contrast for everyone’s sanguine expressions and the witty illustrative details that cleverly support the plot. . . . A silly whale of a tale and a truly seaworthy selection for any read-aloud setting." —Booklist

"The repetitive structure and building humour make the story engaging for story times. Kathryn Durst’s illustrations are expressive, and. . . . [t]he textured artwork and exaggerated features are beautiful." —Quebec Library Association
CASEY LYALL lives in Southwestern Ontario where she also works at her local library (and waits for management to discover they're actually paying her to have fun). When she's not writing, Casey loves to bake, doodle and learn extremely groan-worthy jokes to tell her friends. Casey is the author of the humorous middle-grade mystery series Howard Wallace, P.I. and books A Spoonful of Frogs and Vampire Jam Sandwich.

KATHRYN DURST is a graduate of Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. She has a background in animation, having interned with Pixar Animation Studios. Kathryn has illustrated numerous children's books, including You're In Good Paws, the Polite Predators books and the #1 New York Times bestseller from Paul McCartney, Hey Grandude! When she is not illustrating books, she can be found playing the accordion, growing vegetables, folk dancing or putting on shadow puppet shows. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her grumpy mini dachshund named Chili Dog.

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