The Storm Whale
Part of the collectionThe Storm Whale→Best for families who want gentle but meaningful picture books about loneliness, family bonds, the sea and small acts of courage.
- Books4 / 4
- Arcs1
- Span2013–2023
- StatusComplete
The series
At a glance.
The Storm Whale is a four-book picture-book series written and illustrated by Benji Davies. The Storm Whale introduces Noi, whose lonely days by the sea are changed when he finds a stranded whale. The Storm Whale in Winter raises the peril slightly as Noi searches for his father in snowy weather. Grandma Bird deepens the family world through a stay with Noi's grandmother, while The Great Storm Whale brings memory, family history and whale connection into a broader intergenerational frame. The series is quiet, visually rich and emotionally resonant without becoming heavy.
Best for families who want gentle but meaningful picture books about loneliness, family bonds, the sea and small acts of courage.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Warm
- Gentle
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
Publication order is recommended. The Storm Whale is the natural entry point and gives the later family and whale stories their emotional grounding.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- INarrative arcBooks 1–4 · 2013–2023Low sensitivity
Noi, the sea and the whales
Four seaside picture books about Noi, his family, loneliness, storms, whales and intergenerational connection.
The Storm Whale works as one gentle narrative-emotional arc. The first book introduces Noi's loneliness and the rescue of a stranded whale, while The Storm Whale in Winter adds a more suspenseful but still safe search for his father. Grandma Bird shifts attention towards independence, trust and grandparent connection, and The Great Storm Whale brings family memory and whale history into the foreground. The sensitivity stays low because danger and sadness are brief, softened and resolved, but the books are emotionally meaningful enough to feel far richer than simple seaside adventures.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 6–8
Reluctant-reader friendliness
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Adult crossover
High
Grows with the reader
Not especially
Sensitivity envelope
Low overall, and consistent.
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
Similar in feel
Different shelves, same wavelength.
Read this after…
Series that pick up where The Storm Whale leaves off.
About the author