“You are a narwhal—shy, swift, small (for a whale).” Full of sensory detail, this narrative focusing on the life and activities of the “unicorn of the Arctic” begins on a “biting-cold December day,” in the dark of the Arctic, as “you,” a male narwhal, clash your tusk with that of another male. “Clackety-clack! … Are you playing? Fighting? Showing off for a female?” Onomatopoeia is used effectively throughout: “Pshhht! … Ahhhh!” as narwhals surface for air; the “Tik-tik-tik-tik” of their echolocation. In summer, the narwhals migrate, some birthing calves along the way. There are threats: predatory orcas and dwindling food. The pod becomes trapped in an inlet when the surface freezes over; they swim “around and around, clicking and whistling. There’s no way out. No place to breathe.” They use their heads to break through, only to attract the attention of a hungry polar bear on the surface. These moments of drama bring realistic tension and urgency to an otherwise poetic account of the daily and seasonal rhythms of narwhal life. Immersive illustrations full of deep, sweeping blues and greens provide a mix of realistic details (sea lice on a narwhal tusk, spotted narwhal bodies) and awe-inspiring scenes (the glow of the Northern Lights, stars that “sparkle like ice chips”). Additional information is included at volume’s end.

Venture to the Arctic Ocean and discover real life underwater unicorns--narwhals--in this stunningly illustrated nonfiction picture book.

A HORN BOOK AND BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

You are a narwhal.
Shy... Swift... Small...
Humans call you unicorn of the Arctic.

When winter ice covers the Arctic Ocean, a narwhal pokes his head through a patch of open water, his tusk--a six-foot long tooth--pointed to the sky.

Join this mammal as he jousts with another narwhal, floats with his pod, and uses echolocation to find his prey. When warmer weather arrives, he will migrate towards summer ground. But he must be careful! Predators--orcas and polar bears--will be hungry and looking for a meal.... How will the narwhal escape? Will he be able to return to the winter bay?

Paired with atmospheric illustrations by debut illustrator Deena So'Oteh, nonfiction master Candace Fleming delivers a picture book, uniquely told in second person, that expertly explores the mysterious and fascinating unicorn of the Arctic.