An absolutely beautiful story of love, loss, hope and passion told through the eyes of the young, the determined, those who know change must happen. Rio tells his story and shares his pain whilst living with his mum and her mental health issues. But a change must come. So by moving to California to live with his grandmother, Rio learns of the horrifying effects of human activity that is threatening our planet alongside his own bravery to find his own strength to strive for change. Rio takes us on a wonderful adventure to save ‘White Beak’ whilst saving himself from the guilt and heartfelt loss of being away from his mum and his home. Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital. All Rio wants is for Mum to get better so he can return home. But everything changes when he joins a whale-watching trip and meets White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea. Rio forms an instant bond with the whale, and for the first time in ages he feels a spark of hope. Then White Beak goes missing and Rio may be the only person who can help.

Secondly, I hope it encourages any young reader, who may themselves be suffering from mental health issues or have someone close to them going through a difficult time, that whilst being in nature can't cure everything - it certainly can lift the worries off your shoulders for a little while.After being handed his mothers sketch book and being invited on a whale spotting tour, he meets White Beak for the first time and an instant connect starts.

The Lost Whale has a strong environmental message and an atmosphere aided by the striking illustrations of Levi Pinfold, which help the story come to life, just as it did in the previous collaboration between author and illustrator in The Last Bear. Firstly, I hope it raises awareness of ocean conservation, in particular the plight of the whales. And that if we all work together by taking part on group conservation causes (as per the Happywhale database in the book) then we can make a difference. After that, you're probably thinking "It can't be THAT bad. She must be exaggerating." You'd be right. This book is so much worse.From the author of the bestselling The Last Bear comes another engrossing tale that blends ecological awareness with deftly plotted adventure' Waterstones, Books of the Year 2022 Rio debe viajar a California para quedarse con su abuela, a quien apenas conoce, porque su madre es ingresada en el hospital. Allí, lo único que consigue hacerlo un poco feliz es su nueva amiga, Marina, y las ballenas, que siente que lo conectan a su madre, y más aún cuando reconoce a Morro Blanco, la ballena que su madre no dejaba de dibujar, y con la que forjará un vínculo indestructible. Legendary poets John Agard and Grace Nichols, both originally from the Caribbean, have compiled a lovely book of poems featuring their own work alongside eleven others, forming a generous ‘Caribbean Dozen’ of wordsmiths. The Last Bear, Hannah Gold's award-winning debut, explored the intense connection between animal and child that can help with expressing pain and anxiety - and The Lost Whale reprises that theme' Daily Mail