
Whale Eyes
A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen
Penguin Young Readers Group · Print & ebook · March 18, 2025
From Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker James Robinson comes a breathtaking illustrated memoir for readers ages 10 and up—inspired by the viral, Emmy-nominated short film Whale Eyes.
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- Who it’s for
- An illustrated memoir makes the experience of seeing with strabismus tactile, intimate, and unexpectedly playful.
- Themes
- Living with strabismus, Disability and understanding, The power of words
- Genres
- Special Needs, Kids Biographies, Physical Disabilities
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Start with this bookAbout this book
From Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker James Robinson comes a breathtaking illustrated memoir for readers ages 10 and up—inspired by the viral, Emmy-nominated short film Whale Eyes.
Continue reading
WINNER OF THE SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD • AN ORBIS PICTUS RECOMMENDED BOOK • A BEST BOOK THE YEAR: School Library Journal, NPR, BCCB, New York Public Library, and Chicago Public Library Told through an experimental mix of intimate anecdotes and interactive visuals, this book immerses readers in James’s experiences growing up with strabismus, allowing them to see the world through one eye at a time. Readers will get lost as they chase words. They’ll stare into this book while taking a vision test. They’ll hold it upside down as they practice “pretend-reading”…and they’ll follow an unlikely trail toward discovering the power of words. With poignant illustrations by Eisner Award–nominated artist Brian Rea, James’s story equips readers of all ages with the tools to confront their discomfort with disability and turn confused, blank stares into powerful connections.
Seeing Sideways
An illustrated memoir makes the experience of seeing with strabismus tactile, intimate, and unexpectedly playful.
Come here for
- Interactive visuals that invite you to chase words and try pretend-reading
- A personal account of growing up with strabismus
Expect
- An experimental blend of intimate anecdotes and illustrations
- A thoughtful invitation to turn discomfort with disability into connection
Where it sits
| Kids Biographies | 79% |
|---|---|
| Special Needs | 67% |
| Physical Disabilities | 47% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Kids Biographies
- Special Needs
- Inspiration & Personal Growth
- Authors
- James Robinson
- Publisher
- Penguin Young Readers Group
- Published
- March 18, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Living with strabismus · Disability and understanding · The power of words
- Reading lane
- Kids Biographies