Chaucer’s Books will host local children’s author Robin Yardi for a reading of her latest book for kids “I Know the Whale,” 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at the bookstore, 3321 State St., Santa Barbara.

“I Know the Whale” is the story of a little girl who discovers a beached blue whale, the biggest mammal on earth. The whale teaches the girl some of the largest lessons in life, about the beauty in all things big or small.



”I know the whale lived.
 I know the whale sang.
 But when it washes ashore,
 the whale isn’t singing anymore.

”

The little girl doesn’t know how to feel, and her papa tries to answer all her questions about it.

Time passes, and the whale, and Papa, aren’t there anymore. But when it’s announced that the whale’s bones will be displayed at the local museum, she knows she has to see it again. And even though it’s gone, she knows the whale is still just as beautiful as all the quiet wonderings she has about where it might be now.



The poignant picture book touches on the grief and beauty of death and loss, wonder at the scientific and spiritual unknown, and the space to embrace big questions and feelings, Chaucer’s said.

Representatives from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will be joining the author event at Chaucer’s. Visitors can explore whale specimens from the museum and ask the docent questions about big blue whales.

There will also be a whale bookmark craft for everyone to create.

Yardi, who lives in the Santa Barbara foothills, is an elementary school teacher and museum docent turned author and presenter. She teaches kids in classrooms, libraries and museums about our extraordinary world, and what it means to find your place in it through reading and writing.

Learn more about the author at robinyardi.com.