Standing together on a cliff by the sea and watching whales is Ben and his grandfather's favorite pastime. However, one day the old man passes away, and the boy must learn to cope with this loss. His father tells him a story about a whale calf and an old humpback whale to convey that life is a journey for all of us, and sometimes we must let go to move forward. The atmospheric illustrations by Irene Berg add a quiet and gentle tone to the narrative, further emphasizing the philosophical message of the text.