2019
WISE Score
Amazon
Narwhal gets a new Best Finny Friend, Jelly gets a case of the 'three's a crowd' blues, and everyone learns that pods are better with more pals.
4.9
4.9View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
Narwhal and Jelly is essentially the Seinfeld of early reader books—it's about 'nothing' and everything all at once. It’s funny, it’s kind, and it’s one of the few series kids will actually pick up without being nagged.
Ben Clanton nailed the balance of silly and sweet here. If you have a kid who is starting to navigate the complicated world of 'friend groups' at school, this is a must-read. It's modern, it's fast, and it doesn't talk down to them.
Ideal for 5 to 9-year-olds. It's the sweet spot for kids transitioning out of picture books who still want lots of visual storytelling and jokes.
The Narwhal and Jelly series is the gold standard for kindness. It handles the 'three's a crowd' jealousy dynamic with massive amounts of empathy and zero mean-spiritedness.
Ben Clanton’s art is playful and the puns are top-tier. It encourages kids to see the world (and the ocean) through a lens of 'what if?'—usually involving waffles.
It is a children's graphic novel about a narwhal and a jellyfish. No hidden adult themes, no scary content, just pure underwater vibes.
Excellent for social-emotional learning. It teaches kids how to navigate changing friendship dynamics and inclusivity without feeling like a lecture.
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