In One Whale's Breath

Join a whale below the waves and learn about the wonders of breathing.

What can happen during one whale's breath? Here, readers find out by traveling along with a humpback whale from inhale to exhale. An evocative poem - written as one long sentence without pauses to mirror the whale's breath - describes the activities of all the sea creatures the whale passes, focusing on the way each one breathes. Fascinating facts about their breathing are presented separately in straightforward sidebars. It's a wondrous journey, sure to captivate readers, as they discover how important oxygen is to most living things - under and above the sea - and how we all benefit from sharing it.

This beautiful informational picture book takes an innovative approach to a topic with high appeal. Award-winning author Jessica Kulekjian has crafted a lyrical tale of life under the sea backed up with accessible and expert-vetted science about how creatures breathe. It covers how long creatures can go between breaths, whether they breathe air using their lungs or breathe in water using their gills, and the interdependence of different species for their oxygen. Life-forms included range from sardines and sharks to crabs and kelp, as well as humans and seagulls. Cinyee Chiu's lush, color-drenched illustrations provide a delightful whale's-eye view of a marine ecosystem. The book has strong curriculum connections to primary life science and earth science lessons. Back matter provides more information and further resources.

Author: Jessica Kulekjian
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Published: 09/01/2026
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.20h x 10.20w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781525314100
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2026

About the Author
Jessica Kulekjian lives in Central California, where she spent much of her childhood outdoors, swimming, climbing trees, exploring and inventing stories. As she grew, she started writing those stories down. Jessica went on to study creative writing and education in college and earned an MA in teaching. Today, Jessica is an elementary school teacher and writes in the early morning hours. Her passion for nature, free play and interest-led learning inspires all her stories.
Cinyee Chiu studied illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her creative inspiration often comes from nature, daily life and inner awareness. Since becoming a mother, her daughter has become her greatest source of inspiration. She currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and daughter.