Welcome to Whalebone Mansion: Creatures That Lurk at a Whale Fall -- Laken Slate, Hardcover

Two small fish discover a haunted house deep below the surface of the ocean. Are there ghosts inside? Vampires? What even IS this spooky place?

A playful and fun nonfiction graphic picture book for 3-7-year-olds that asks questions and has sidebar facts, so kids won't even notice how much they're learning!

When a whale dies, its body sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor and decomposes there, providing sustenance to many creatures. When it's picked clean, the bones create an eerie kind of structure--resembling a haunted house or whalebone mansion.

Two small fish discover a whalebone mansion, enter at their own risk, and encounter a number of creepy creatures along the way. Told in a graphic-style format, with playful text that asks young readers questions and includes sidebars that provide additional facts, Welcome to Whalebone Mansion invites kids to a delightfully spooky, informational feast!

Creatures inside:

• Hagfish
• Goblin shark
• Vampire squid
• Anglerfish
• Worms (known as bone-eating snot flowers)
• And more!

Back matter includes more information about the deep sea, more about whale falls, and a QR code leading to a video to see a real whale fall.

Author: Laken Slate
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781623545789
Audience: Ages 4-8

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025

About the Author
Laken Slate grew up in Choctaw, Oklahoma, more than five hundred miles from the nearest ocean. But she developed an admiration for sea creatures. Laken is a former kindergarten teacher with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. She loves to invite the littlest learners to discuss big concepts. Laken lives all over the world with her wonderful husband and two precious kids. As a US Navy spouse, she now sees the ocean quite a lot. This is her first picture book.

Bindy James is an illustrator based in Brisbane, Australia.
She has a degree in environmental science and one in graphic/motion design. Bindy is fascinated by the natural world, and since having children, she's also interested in how little ones relate to and learn from their local natural environment. She lives with her husband, two kids, and two pugalier dogs named Ziggy and Moose. This is her first book. www.bindyjames.com