Will and Krill

PreS-Gr 1–A small and timid whale, Will struggles to find friends and her voice in this sweet tale about learning one’s place in the world. Will, a purple whale with large, orange glasses, is overlooked and alone when it comes to finball practice and orca-stra. Despite the puns, Will’s distress is palpable in the telling, and Byer’s use of light in the illustrations heightens tension well. When Will finds a friend in a krill named Charlotte and her family, she must defend them from others who would eat them; Will is a vegetarian. Sometimes, being different is not a choice, such as with Will’s size. Finding a good friend and standing up for them is a sign of love and integrity. Byer tackles a complicated topic with kindness and a resolute heart. Individualism exists within society and, as Will demonstrates, it’s okay to be different. Vibrant colors and cool tones bleed to the edges of most pages, with many scenes depicting double-page layouts. Text is clean and varies for emphasis and dialogue.