“THANK YOU for the amazing time spent with you today. Our students had a great time hearing all about your personal experience as a writer, the writing process and getting to know a bit more about what it truly means to be an author. Thank you for sharing that unique experience with them. On a personal note, it was such a pleasure getting to meet and chat with you. You are such a lovely person and I will certainly be singing your praises to local colleagues in the arts and enrichment field.” — Bancroft School
“Vita, the talk was amazing! I spent the rest of the day throwing Vita quotes at the students. The conversation was so good. As students in their first year of design I know that many of the students really connected to you and your work. Thank you again for taking the time and sharing your great work and energy!” — Professor Sean Burkholder, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania
“It was a great event. I absolutely loved hearing about your work. I must say it was not the presentation I was expecting…It was so much more!” — Nobscot Reading Council Reviews
“This volume is a treasure for readers who are tired of traditional helpless princesses who fall in love instantly and “live happily ever after. Brilliant.” — Kirkus Starred Review
“It is girls who take the initiative and direct the action in these fractured fairy tales with a contemporary twist. The author and illustrator offer racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Recommended for all collections!” — School Library Journal
“This book is beautiful, and about how love and friendship can overcome evil.” — Risa, 9yrs
“Exciting, surprising, a fun fairytale book that is utterly breathtaking!” — Valentina, 8yrs
“A whale of a tale, beautifully rendered in nothing but pencil. A wordless story of a modern girl and boy. Every illustration showcases the capabilities of pencil forming a series of stunning, photorealistic snapshots. VERDICT A lovely addition.” — School Library Journal
“Wordless, with masterful artwork and an intriguing narrative undertow, this whale’s tale will transfix.” — Kirkus Starred Review
“Husband-and-wife team, debut with a sumptuously illustrated, semi-wordless story of discovery and collaboration. Dynamically varied perspectives, the inky mysteries of the water’s depths, and attention to realistic detail give the artwork a strong, visceral impact.” — Publishers Weekly
“The artwork is the star of the piece. As in the Murrows’ The Whale, the photorealistic pencil drawings are expertly detailed and textured, while the gray palette creates a subdued tone, initially fitting to the theme. The illustrator later adds hints of bright yellow to characters who are literally touched by art—which will help younger readers unlock the meaning behind the story. A touching addition.” — School Library Journal
“The second collaborative wordless picture book from the Murrows (The Whale, 2016), this evokes city life through beautiful pencil drawings…The amount of detail in each illustration is astounding—one spread features the artist’s arm and hand drawing a picture, and careful crosshatching gives it an impressive photorealistic effect…children will continue talking about the artwork long after the book is closed.” — Booklist
“Where words so often fail, the wordless breathes life into people’s smallest actions and deepest impacts, as the Murrows’ spreads uplift the mundane. It’s a positive love letter to community (even among commuter-train regulars), diversity, and paying it forward…Timely and timeless, as kindness always is.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Taut pencil drawings by married collaborators Ethan and Vita Murrow (The Whale) show how art can forge community in public spaces. Meticulously drafted spreads capture the action on an urban train…Detailed portraits of passengers by the Murrows value each one as an individual. The initial artist, cued as gender fluid, is portrayed as a hero whose powers depend on creativity and loving-kindness.” — Publishers Weekly
