THE HUMMINGBIRD & THE NARWHAL, written and illustrated by Annie Higbee, is an enchanting children’s picture book about the transformative power of kindness and friendship. Higbee’s simple yet evocative prose brings to life the unlikely bond between two very different creatures who nevertheless share a striking resemblance: a colorful hummingbird and a pale, tusk-bearing whale known as a narwhal.
When the hummingbird is blown off course during her annual migration, she finds herself stranded in the icy waters of the Arctic, where she meets a lonely narwhal who has been separated from his pod. Despite their vastly different worlds—one is a creature of the air and the other of the dark ocean depths—they forge a fast friendship. The hummingbird vows to help the narwhal uncover his life’s purpose and the meaning behind his seemingly useless tusk, which has made him a target of mockery. Proclaiming him a magical sea unicorn destined to bring joy and color to the world, she watches in wonder as the Arctic sky comes alive with a dazzling cosmic light show and the narwhal’s body and tusk begin to sparkle and gleam.
THE HUMMINGBIRD & THE NARWHAL is a sweetly inspirational story enlivened by whimsical, memorable characters and keen insights into the longings that unite all living beings. Higbee’s narrative is imbued with a dreamlike, almost mythic quality that elevates a simple tale of interspecies friendship into a resonant fable about celebrating our differences while recognizing our fundamental connectedness. In one particularly stirring passage, the hummingbird tells the narwhal that his tusk is not a liability but the key to his true calling: “You are a magical creature. A unicorn of the sea! You bring color and joy to the world.” It’s a potent reminder that our greatest perceived weaknesses often mask our most exceptional gifts.
Higbee’s lyrically unadorned prose is nearly zen-like in its simplicity; describing the narwhal’s magical transformation into a sea unicorn, her stark, haiku-like imagery achieves an incantatory beauty: “Stars began shooting and showering effervescent light patterns like comets from the upper skies. A green-yellow shade of backlit color engulfed the dark skies and moved side to side like a dangling blanket. And a perfect crescent moon hung patiently, pointing at the center.”
The soft, whimsical illustrations in THE HUMMINGBIRD & THE NARWHAL perfectly complement the gentle, fable-like nature of the story. Higbee uses a muted color palette with occasional bursts of brighter hues, which effectively conveys the contrast between the different environments and emotions in the tale. For instance, the cold, gray tones of the Arctic scenes evoke a sense of isolation and longing, while the vibrant colors of the hummingbird add warmth and hope. The overall effect is charming and aligns well with the book’s message of connection and kindness across different worlds.
Higbee’s gentle yet perceptive storytelling and timely themes of empathy, interconnectedness, and self-actualization combine to deliver an uplifting and satisfying story that will appeal to young readers’ innate sense of wonder and idealism. Evoking such classics of children’s literature as Charlotte’s Web and The Little Prince, Higbee’s book is a welcome addition to the genre, a heartening fable that will leave its mark on the imaginations of children and their parents alike.
Annie Higbee’s THE HUMMINGBIRD & THE NARWHAL is a poignant modern fable about celebrating our uniqueness while recognizing our shared humanity. The author’s enchanting tale of an unlikely friendship between two very different creatures is a timely lesson in empathy and kindness that will charm readers of all ages.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader