This is a Cute Children's book that I read with my twin boys. My boys love the little boat in this book. I really love that message in this book. I also found this book's pictures. I love the characters (the little boy and the whale) in this book. This is a really cute and fun book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Flyaway Books) or author (Barroux) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Loved the illustrations and message of this book, but found the story too disjointed without any real flow. It was a good starting point for talking about the importance of taking care of the earth, but it wasn't engaging enough for my 4-year-old to want to read more than once.

The artist Barroux takes on yet another environmental issue in this lovely book - the tons of plastic filling our oceans, and the horrifying effects all this trash is having on sea life. In this sweet story, a boater is saved from drowning by a friendly whale. And then, it is up to him to return the favor.

The illustrations are simple, yet very evocative.

We are left with this powerful message - Save our oceans. Save our whales.

A treasure for readers of all ages.

I believe that every reader should make space in their reading lives for picture books and this book sealed the deal. I Love You, Blue is a gorgeous picture book that dazzles the eyes as well as it does the mind. It's simple, yet powerful, storyline reminds readers of their responsibility to care for our oceans and the animals within it. The author's note at the end is the perfect addition since readers will likely be inspired to take action.

I Love You, Blue

Sometimes help comes out of the blue.

This is a poignant story about a little boy caught in a storm; when “the ocean roars and rages” he cries for help and is rescued by a whale named Blue. One day when Blue does not come, the child dives into the ocean to find him. When Blue opens his mouth to say “AAAH”, the boy discovers a “belly full of bags”, which the child works to haul away, rescuing the whale in return.
“Save our oceans. Save our whales.” is the final message, and the author concludes with a page that offers suggestions on minimizing the use of plastic and a list of websites to extend learning and action.

The charming illustrations are simple and sweet; the text is spare and authentic as it gently conveys the importance of caring for the earth and all living things, particularly ocean creatures threatened by plastic pollution. The blues of the whale, the ocean, and the earth subtly reinforce the interconnectedness of all things.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review

This is a very cute book between both the story and the illustrations. The book is a quick and cute story about treating the ocean and the animals that live in it well. I think the illustrations do a great job of adding value and really making the story come alive. I think this book would be great for elementary students.

This is a beautiful illustrated, very simple book about the need to keep our oceans clean. I love the message that we are part of the solution to cleaning up oceans. The illustrations make this book shine I do wish that the story wasn’t quite as simplified, but it will be a great introduction to talking about plastics in our waterways that can be enhanced with other books.

Love, love, love this book! The illustrations are adorable and the story is so touching. It makes the reader aware of the serious issue of plastic getting into our oceans and killing whales through a sweet story of a boy and Blue, the whale he meets and saves. The information at the end of the book is very helpful.

I received an electronic ARC from Flyaway Books through NetGalley.
Barroux message, "Save our oceans. Save our whales," comes through clearly with little text and lovely watercolor illustrations. This little boy is saved by Blue the whale when his boat sinks. In turn, he saves Blue when he swallows a huge number of plastic bags. The story introduces young readers to protecting the environment and wildlife from the waste humans toss away. It's a sweet story that can be looked at from several levels of development and plant seeds for the future.

A simple, yet adorably delightful tale with powerful messaging about the importance of protecting the oceans.

A little boy is sailing the seas. He loves the blue color of the ocean. But sometimes the ocean is dark and stormy. During one of those storms, he is rescued by a whale. A whale named Blue. The little boy wants to see his friend again, but Blue is nowhere to be found. So the little boy searches for him, diving down to the bottom of the sea, where he finds Blue feeling sick. Blue has a stomach full of plastic bags. So the boy gathers them up and Blue feels much better.

The text is simple and easy to read, but the message is critical. Our oceans are dying and the young will inherit this planet. They must learn to care for it and protect it. This books is a wonderful way to introduce this concept of saving the whales and the oceans, caring for the environment, cleaning up beaches, reducing plastic waste and instilling a deep love for the sea.

The illustrations are simple but eye catching and captivating just like the message is.

A must read and a must have for home and for classrooms too.

In this story, a fisherman survives a brutal storm with the help of a whale. From that day on, the fisherman looks for the whale on his daily trips. One day, the whale isn’t there. The fisherman finds the whale and discovers he’s feeling ill because of eating plastic and trash that was in the ocean.

Despite being super cute, the book includes information about how to protect our oceans and the creatures that call it home.

I’m not sure if I’ll purchase a copy for my classroom because I teach older kids, but I definitely will keep this book in mind when I have little ones of my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Review will be posted on my Instagram @lizzies_little_library_

I Love You, Blue is one of the cutest children’s books I have read this year. This book not only has adorable illustrations but it teaches a very important lesson about our environment. The illustrations are beautiful, I especially love the lighthouse. The story takes on a very serious and important topic, taking care of our oceans! I felt like the author did a great job showing what pollution does to animals but made it simple enough for young children to understand. We need more books like this!

5 / 5 stars.

An eco-conscious story of an unusual friendship between a boy and a whale that makes you care.

There is no lack of picturebooks about the importance of protecting nature but very few deliver this message as clearly and effectively as I Love You, Blue written and illustrated by Barroux. With minimal text and evocative watercolour illustrations, this picturebook tells the story of a young lighthouse keeper, who sets sail and is caught in a storm. As he is drowning, a whale named Blue rescues him. The two become friends, but the next day the whale is nowhere to be found. Puzzled by his disappearance, the boy dives deep into the ocean only to discover that the whale is sick as he swallowed too much plastic waste. It is now the boy’s turn to save his friend.

With just a few contour lines and splashes of colour, Barroux creates a classic story of the ultimate friendship (think Oliver Jeffers or Benji Davies). But it offers the reader so much more than that — by highlighting the fragility of humankind and that of nature, it emphasises the interdependence of life. Like previous Barroux’s works on the subject (for example, How Many Trees?), it tackles this important issue in a subtle way that is accessible for pre-schoolers. Seeing the boy hugging the whale on the last spread alongside the words “Save our oceans, save our whales”, the reader is instantly drawn into empathy. Accompanying this thoughtful story is an author’s note with facts about how whales can be protected. This factual part can be explored in much more detail with the help of parents or educators.

Combining aesthetic qualities and pedagogical dimensions, I Love You, Blue is a perfect introductory text to spark discussion about the environment and pollution because help does not come just out of the blue.

My 6 yr old daughter and I really have been enjoying this book. It's a good mix of kindness/ caring, along with taking care of the Earth. It's a great book that includes a worthy message in an easy way for young children to understand.

This is the perfect story to help young children begin to understand protecting our earth and the creatures that we share it with. I especially loved the author notes that shared some facts and things we can do in our homes to help protect animals like Blue. Very enjoyable read.

I Love You, Blue is a charming story about the friendship between a boy and a whale with beautiful, yet simple, colorful illustrations. It contains an important message that is geared to young children about the hazards of plastic waste in our environment, specifically in the oceans. “Save our oceans. Save our whales.” At the end, the author offers suggestions on minimizing the use of plastic containers as well as suggested websites to learn more about saving the whales and protecting our environment.

Sweet, delightful book about the seriousness of plastics in the ocean. A young child goes out alone on his boat when a sudden storm appears. Yelling "May Day," the child is rescued by a large whale, named by the child, Blue. (Blue Whale....) A friendship, especially on the part of the child, develops, but he worries when he cannot find Blue.

By deep sea diving, he finds Blue, looking a little sick. When Blue allows the child in his mouth, the child sees all the plastic items inside the whale, and removes them while reminding the whale that jellyfish are better for breakfast than plastic. When the child returns, calling for Blue, Blue happily jumps up out of the water. The story ends with a message about saving our oceans and whales.

This book is for young children. It is basic with simple illustrations. At the end, there is an information box from the author, Barroux, about plastics in the ocean with websites to contact for more information. There is also basic info about ways to reduce plastic use that even young children can comprehend. One of the sites given is The Monterrey Bay Aquarium which has wonderful educational materials and I would think this would include videos.

As a teacher, I am asked by NetGalley if I would use this book in a classroom. Definitely, this book should be in schools. There is so much a teacher could do with young children to teach more about pollution in the oceans. Also, for a child to comprehend the true size of a Blue Whale, they can be compared to a school bus. With a knotted rope, a teacher could mark the sizes of various other animals, including other sea animals, and let children hold the knots at the differing sizes. They can better grasp the sizing of animals that way. There are also wonderful videos where the children in a classroom could see a whale breaching, which is what Blue does at the end of the book. As a proponent for the teaching of environmental concerns, I think this book should be included in Pre-K through second grade classroom libraries.

I did receive this book through #NetGalley and #Flyawaybooks. #ILoveYouBlue

In this beautifully illustrated book, the character befriends a whale, finds him sick from eating too many plastic bags, and then cleans up the trash to help him feel better. Such an important message about keeping our oceans cleans!

Very cute book about keeping our oceans clean. I think young children will understand the importance due to the sick whale. The illustrations are so good as well. Thank you for the chance to read and review.

This was such a cute and simple story about friendship and taking care of others and the planet. I love the illustration style of this book. I think my kids will enjoy this quick sweet read!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Flyaway Books for the advance copy!