The help of another group of creatures is required to rebuild: “An army of fiddler crabs marched up the beach and set about making the town more beautiful than ever before.” In an era when natural disasters may loom large in children's minds, Lucas seems to offer the vision of a problem that-at least between the covers of a book-can be solved with careful consultation, cooperation and the judicious use of fiddler crabs. The stars recommend that the townspeople sing, and the flood that results from their rendition of “The Rain Song” successfully floats the whale away from town, but submerges it in the process. Joe and Grandma May gather with the Mayor and the other wooden-doll townspeople on the whale's back, awaiting advice from the Innumerable Stars.

“Up the chimney!” The gigantic whale fills many of the double-page, full-bleed spreads he's a deep Mediterranean blue, and his skin is covered with a multitude of tiny calligraphic markings. When they realize that that the whale outside is blocking the door, Grandma May puts on her “Going Out Hat” and grabs her umbrella. His tale has classic narrative elements that support a firm visual authority. This time, a gamboling whale accidentally flattens the seaside town where Joe and his Grandma May live, and Joe has to figure out how to save everyone. ''Halibut Jackson'' is the first book Lucas has both illustrated and written, and it's an impressive debut.

Previously published by Candlewick Press and Andersen Press his books include Halibut Jackson, The Robot and the Bluebird and The Lying Carpet, a richly illustrated fable for older readers. ) books, readers are carried to places where curious events unfold with comfortable matter-of-factness. David Lucas describes his drawing as ‘knitting with ink’ and his stories are a mix of myth, fairytale and autobiography.

Halibut Jackson by David Lucas