"This is a picture book with a strong sense of design. The original artwork was completed using traditional Chinese blue-and-white porcelain firing methods, presenting a rich and textured visual effect. The page layout has a rhythmic quality. The author skillfully uses the contrast between different structures and forms to create an elegant, expansive atmosphere for the work, making it truly distinctive."
— Award Citation for "A Falling Whale"

★ French copyright has been sold: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada.
★ Winner of the 2020 "China's Most Beautiful Book" award; recipient of the 2020 7th Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award (Book Award); winner of the 2nd "Bronze Sunflower Picture Book Award".
★ The original artwork was created on blue-and-white porcelain plates and famille-rose porcelain plates fired at 1300℃, resulting in a unique artistic form. The iconic blue of the porcelain and the intentional use of white space create a distinctive aesthetic.
★ The book features an impressive four-page super gatefold spread that extends to one meter in length, delivering a powerful visual impact. It includes a supplementary booklet on the making of blue-and-white porcelain, using photographs of the actual process to intuitively showcase the complex craftsmanship.
★ The story is based on the natural phenomenon of "a whale falling, all life is reborn", and poetically explores the cycle of life, death, sacrifice and rebirth, conveying the hope of endless continuation and touching emotions.
★ English translation samples available.

A flurry of sand and stones, a deafening roar echoes from the horizon. What was that sound?
The forest animals rush from their homes. But the rain has stopped, the ground isn't shaking, the sky hasn't fallen—so what was it? Only the birds, flying high and seeing far, know the truth—a whale has fallen from the sky.

Inspired by the "whale fall" phenomenon, this story tells a fantastical tale of a whale that was swept into the desert by a tornado. It then shared a life cycle with the forest animals. When the whale fell into the desert, rabbits, mice, deer, and other animals tried to rescue it but were powerless. Eventually, the whale died and its body merged with the earth. The desert gradually transformed into an oasis, nurturing lush plants and new animals.

Xi yuke
Legal name Liu Hangyu, born in 1993 in northern China. A children's literature writer and freelance illustrator. Besides writing, painting is an integral part of his life, and he primarily works with watercolors.

He mainly creates various novels and fairy tales. His works have been published in numerous children's magazines and periodicals such as "Children's Literature," "Du You," and "Juvenile Literature & Art." He has published books including "My Deskmate is a Bit Strange."
"Blue Bird" won the 2014 Bingxin Children's Literature New Work Award. "Crossing" won the 2015 Du You Cup National Children's Literature Competition (Writer Category) Excellence Award. Several of his works have been selected for annual anthologies of outstanding Chinese children's literature.