Will and Krill – Perfect Picture Book Friday

I often feature books that are nonfiction or informational fiction, but this week I wanted to feature a heart-filled tale of pure fiction written by a friend, Stacey Byer, I’ve known online for over ten years. She lives in the Caribbean, and her artwork is greatly informed by the glorious beauty of the ocean around her.

It’s important to be clear with kids while reading this book that, unlike the real world, the tiny whale named Will featured in this story is…a vegetarian, not a carnivore. Now that’s a curiosity! What happens when the usual prey of humpback whales thinks you’re out to eat them? Let’s take a peek inside the covers to find out.

There’s a signal that we’re in a fictional world, because that tiny whale is wearing glasses. All the better to see those colors, the play of light and shadow! I’m immediately transported to the Caribbean, and its magical underwater world.

The other whales make fun of little Will because she’s so small. And she has a tiny voice that no one hears. Poor little Will. She may be a natural introvert, but even introverts need friends (well, most introverts do, LOL).

So Will goes on a search and ends up lost and crying. Enter Krill! But Krill is afraid of being eaten and refuses to come out until Will vows that she’s a vegetarian. Then all of the krill come out of hiding. But—yikes!—the squid are carnivores! And oh, the whales!!! Will must finally use her big voice to stand up for her friends.

Kids are going to love the illustrations that absolutely glow with undersea magic. And they will fall in love with this tiny whale with the tiny voice, until she uses it LOUDLY to protect her friends. This book is scheduled to come out on June 10. Congrats, Stacey!!!

Activities:

Make an origami whale, squid, and krill (the video is for shrimp, but close enough, LOL).

Watch this video from the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco about how humpback whales can use a group technique called bubble netting to coral their prey, including krill. (Sorry vegetarians, they’re truly carnivorous!)

Pair this book with one that’s informational fiction called Good Eating: The (Short) Life of Krill by Matt Lilley, illustrated by Dan Tavis. Discuss how one is fiction and the other uses the techniques of fictional storytelling to present information that’s true.

Title: Will and Krill

Author/Illustrator: Stacey Byer

Publisher: Beaming Books, 2025

Ages: Pre-K to 3rd

Themes: Friendship, standing up for yourself and others

For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.