Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen

Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen, written by James Robinson and illustrated by Brian Rea, published by Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Book cover of Whale Eyes. An illustration of the head of a young boy in an orange hat, seemingly indented into the center of an eye-shape stencil, done in black and white lines.

About

Filmmaker James Robinson’s illustrated memoir details his experiences with a form of strabismus, a disability that causes his eyes to focus differently. Brian Rea’s innovative illustrations and Robinson’s thorough descriptions allow readers to understand how this disability affects his vision, his ability to read, and his social interactions with others.

Awards Won

Title Year
Schneider Award Seal Schneider Family Book Award

The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Learn more about the history and criteria of the Schneider Family Book Award [PDF link]

 2026 - Winner(s)