Books About Whaling

The Best Whaling Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about whaling? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Moby-Dick
Series
#2 in Series
Graphic Nov.
The Shortlist

Our 4 Favorite Books About Whaling

Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2010

Moby-Dick

By Herman Melville, Eric Freeberg (Illustrator) · Classic Starts series

A captain's obsession with a white whale leads his crew into perilous waters.

160 pages· 17,405 words· Est. 3 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 686 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Join a young seaman aboard the Pequod, where Captain Ahab's relentless hunt for the elusive white whale, Moby Dick, drives the crew into a dangerous odyssey. Will obsession lead to their doom?
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2010

Heart of a Samurai

A shipwrecked boy's journey from Japan to America challenges cultural boundaries and dreams of becoming a samurai.

Newbery Honor (2011)Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (2011)
305 pages· 49,933 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 8,316 ratings
$20.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1841, young Manjiro is shipwrecked and rescued by an American vessel. As he navigates a new world, he faces prejudice and opportunity, learning English and Western ways. Adopted by the ship's captain, he ventures to New England and California, dreaming of returning to Japan. But upon his return, he's imprisoned as an outsider. With unique insights into both cultures, Manjiro stands at a crossroads: can he persuade Japan to open its borders and fulfill his dream of becoming a samurai? His journey is a tale of resilience, bridging worlds and challenging traditions.
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2013

Written in Stone

A young girl battles to preserve her tribe's heritage as modern whaling threatens their survival.

208 pages· 36,476 words· Est. 4 hour read
3.8/5 Goodreads · 396 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In the 1920s Pacific Northwest, Pearl dreams of following her father's footsteps in whale hunting. But with her father lost and steam-powered ships decimating whale populations, her tribe faces extinction. As the Makah struggle to survive, Pearl must find a way to save their stories and traditions. Can she preserve her people's legacy in a rapidly changing world?
Picture Book · Ages 8–11 · 2011

Chasing Whales Aboard the Charles W. Morgan

Two boys find themselves on a ghostly whaling voyage. What are they truly chasing?

32 pages· 1,080 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud
3.0/5 Goodreads · 5 ratings
$35.64Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: Joey and his friend Tank, despite their baseball rivalry, face a new challenge when a visit to a historic ship transports them to a whaling voyage. With a mysterious ghostly girl in pursuit, the boys must navigate this eerie adventure. Can they uncover the secrets of the past and find their way back home, or will the ghosts of the sea keep them forever? Dive into a tale where friendship and courage are tested against the backdrop of a haunting maritime mystery.
The Bookroo Book Club

Great books, picked for their age.

Books worth reading again and again, delivered to your door.

Find their book club
Bookroo book club box

Bookroo

Book Clubs

Follow Bookroo