Noah and the Whale

"...A book that will be loved by many. A small tableau of emotions that you want to hang on your wall so that in the mornings, as soon as you open your eyes, you can look at it and smile, and let it warm your heart, if only for a moment..."

"...A story told in few words that nevertheless say a great deal. Without superfluous words, the author speaks to us of loneliness, the need for friends, the absence of a parent… And here comes imagination, dreams, and great… strides."

"...It takes great courage to face separation. But Noe knows what is right. And most importantly: his relationship with his dad is changing. And he knows that one day he’ll see his little whale again. I close the book, with its beautiful illustrations and his drawings in my mind… Yes, there are books that give us courage, that whisper to us to keep going and not to give up."

An exclusive interview with Benji Davies in Talcmag to mark the release of the book *Noah and the Whale*. He speaks to his Greek readers for the first time!

"..._Noah and the Whale_ is a tender story with messages about friendship, relationships, loss, single parenthood and loneliness. In a very simple way, this book manages to touch even the youngest children and make them identify with the hero."

"...Read it cuddled up with your little ones and give them the chance to talk about how they feel about Noe, the whale and Dad… Everything our children say, even if it seems funny or meaningless to us, concerns both them and us, and of course our relationship. Happy reading!"

"..._Noah and the Whale_ has finally found a place on our bookshelf, and I’m delighted because by reading this story, my children will become a little more sensitive, more tender and more giving than they were before!"

"...Benji Davis’s truly magical illustrations tell this tender story of friendship, concealing within it truths and messages about loneliness, single parenthood... the need for a friend."

"...It really is a very tender book about a child who feels lonely in a house by the sea. About a family that sticks together through thick and thin! I loved it! The illustrations are simply wonderful; they take you on a journey along with the words."

"...A wonderful book about the father-child relationship, about loneliness, about everlasting friendship. All this conveyed in a simple way by the charismatic Benji Davies. The translation by Antonis Papatheodoulou is also excellent. An ideal choice not only for pre-school children, but also for much younger children. This is because the illustrations uniquely tell the story from beginning to end. And they don’t stop there. They say more. They speak to the soul. A book that will delight young and old alike."

– Vasilis Koutsaris, ‘Thessalia’ newspaper

"...Noah and the Whale: the children’s book that teaches us what it takes to feel at home, right in the midst of one’s own life!"

"Benji Davies: this children’s book author and illustrator is a little magician."

"...When, after reading it for the first time, I leafed through it again more slowly, looking at the pictures, and closed the book, do you know what I did? Without realising it, I clutched it to my chest. Just like when I was a child. When I realised it, I smiled and tried to explain my reaction. I think that if I tell you about the story and its messages, you’ll understand why I felt that way too. I don’t know if I wanted to hug Noe or the little whale, or both of them with their sweet story."

"...When you’re a mum, there are a thousand and one good things. One of them is that you read children’s books and sometimes you come across little gems. Like *Noah and the Whale*. I won’t tell you whether your child will love it. You’ll be the first to adore it. And as for your little one, you’ll see the excitement in their eyes from the very first page."

"...It is remarkable how Benji Davies manages to depict just a few snapshots of the lives of his young and older heroes, and yet make you adore them and feel as though you know a huge part of their fantastical story."

"...A story about friendship, loneliness and family that children aged 3 and over will love and that will give slightly older children food for thought, sparking a lovely conversation with the mum or dad who read it to them!"

"...The aesthetic of its illustrations, combined with the beautiful story of little Noah, makes this a book that deserves a place in every child’s library."

"...But that is not what is remarkable. It is that this tender book by the British author, illustrator and animated film director speaks of something that is not usually talked about: the loneliness of children."

"...His story is simple and easy to understand, yet rich in messages – how we all feel lonely, how feelings need to be expressed because it sets you free, how friendship is magical and can make people happy, and how when we find an animal in need, we look after it and then set it free in its natural environment. Sweet everyday themes, in other words, with a delightful ecological twist!"

"Noah himself may never be able to find his own mother again. But the little whale can. Through this difficult decision, the hero essentially reconnects with his father. Together they return the little whale to the sea and let it go. There is something comforting about the process that takes place amidst the storm. The return of the little whale to the sea becomes a means of accepting grief. Thus, in the end, the hero finds redemption. And with him, we the readers too."