"The book is funny and earnest, pellucid and profound." --The New York Times Book Review

Awards
National Book Award Finalist
ALA Notable Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Horn Book Fanfare
New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year
New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year
New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year

Reviews

School Library Journal - *starred review
A simple, matter-of-fact story about the friendship between a mouse (Amos) and a whale (Boris). Amos, off to adventure on the high seas, falls off his boat (the Rodent) and is rescued by Boris. The two become fast friends ("Boris admired the delicacy, the quivering daintiness, the light touch, the small voice, the gemlike radiance of the mouse. Amos admired the bulk, the grandeur, the power, the purpose, the rich voice, and the abounding friendliness of the whale"), and years later Amos is able to rescue Boris in return. Lovely watercolor pictures and a funny, well-written text which presents its plot coincidences in tongue-in-cheek manner (". . . it just so happened that Boris the whale was flung ashore by a tidal wave and stranded on the very shore where Amos happened to make his home. It also just so happened that when . . . Boris was lying high and dry on the sand . . . Amos came down to the beach . . .") fit together admirably in this faintly Aesopian tale, and children will respond to the true-blue twosome with much pleasure.