Although he is probably best known for his many folkloric retellings, prolific picture-book author Eric A. Kimmel has also interpreted a number of works of world literature, from Beowulf to Don Quixote, for younger children. Here he turns to that classic 19th-century American novel, Moby Dick, presenting the story in rhyming sea shanty form. Told from seaman Ishmael's perspective, the tale follows the tragic story of Captain Ahab and the whaling ship Pequod, as they chase after that great white whale, Moby Dick, who had maimed the captain on a previous voyage. Needless to say, all does not end well...

Although I consider Herman Melville one of, if not the greatest writer that America has ever produced, and although I consider Moby Dick to be a work of genius, I don't think it would have been at the top of my list, when it comes to works of adult literature to retell for children. Its themes are so mature, and many of its scenes so intensely graphic, that I probably would have passed it over, in considering such a list. Then again, Shakespeare is replete with mature themes and graphic scenes, and he's been retold for children countless times, so perhaps I'm simply being overly cautious. Kimmel's narrative here is engaging, and Andrew Glass' accompanying artwork, done in oil paint, is expressive. A detailed afterword gives more information on Moby Dick and the American whaling industry of the 19th century, as well as providing a glossary. If you're looking for a children's retelling of this story, to familiarize the young with a great novel, then Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale might be the book for you. But if the children in question are animal lovers, parents and educators should be aware that there are some distressing scenes here, in which whales are harpooned and killed. ( )

I never read this book as a child because I was never interested in things like that. This book is different from the others because he made it kid friendly and shorter. This book was okay but it still did not interest me much and I was not a fan of the illustrations. ( )

All the reviews I've read are valid. And they all say about the same thing. So you don't need me to tell you more. The ratings are all over the place, though, aren't they? I guess that means you'll have to read this and judge it for yourself. All I can say is, it worked for me, to the point of making me consider, for the first time in almost 5 decades of being a reader, tackling Melville's doorstopper. ( )

A good, bare bones distillation of the Moby Dick story for younger readers featuring some fabulously awesome illustrations by Andrew Glass.
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Moby Dick in a picture book for kids? Yes! This is not likely a book that young parents will pick off the shelf for a bedtime story, but it deserves an audience. Eric Kimmel captures the essence of Melville's classic for a young audience, and he does it in rhyme, and he spares us the endless chapters on whales and whaling (sorry, it may be a classic, but those chapters are sheer drudgery).

"Call me Ishmael ... When days start getting long again and time is moving slow, I set out for New Bedford town, a whaling for to go."

No important part of the story is missing, and while some of the rhymes are a bit forced, the overall effect of Kimmel's retelling, the book's generous size, and Andrew Glass' evocative paintings is striking. An Author's Note and Glossary are included. Hopefully, teachers will find a way to use this one.

The readership for a rhyming, picture book version of Melville's classic, Moby Dick, is likely very limited; and yet, this one is SO well done and the artwork is SO stunning, that I sincerely hope it finds an audience.
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