Whale Eyes — A Groundbreaking Illustrated Memoir by James Robinson, Featuring Art by Brian Rea

Brian ReaBook Publishing
Written By Dutch Uncle

Penguin Workshop Launches Whale Eyes, a Visually Powerful Memoir with Companion Short Film Trailer

Whale Eyes, the new illustrated memoir by Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker James Robinson, is making waves in the literary world.

Inspired by his viral, Emmy-nominated short film for The New York Times, this genre-defying book invites readers to experience life through Robinson’s eyes—literally.

Told through a compelling mix of personal anecdotes, visual metaphors, and interactive page design, Whale Eyes breaks traditional boundaries of memoir. From middle-grade readers to adults, audiences are challenged to chase fading words, tilt the book upside down, and even undergo a simulated vision test.

But it is the poignant illustrations by Eisner Award–nominated artist Brian Rea that elevate the book into a deeply immersive experience. Known for his work with The New York Times' Modern Love column, Rea’s deceptively simple, emotionally rich visuals serve as the connective tissue of the narrative.

Printed in full color, his illustrations breathe life into every moment of disorientation, vulnerability, and discovery.

Critical Acclaim & Community Recognition

Whale Eyes has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and BookPage, and has been selected as both an Indies Introduce Pick (Winter/Spring 2025) and an Indie Next Pick (February/March 2025).

The book is also a celebration of the Disability Community, whose advocacy has made it possible for stories like this to take center stage. Robinson acknowledges this collective effort in a moving tribute included in the book’s final pages.

A Short Film Trailer Brings the Book to Life

To accompany the release, a short film trailer offers a visual extension of the memoir’s themes. Like the book, the film explores the idea of vision—literal and metaphorical—through intimate storytelling and artistic composition.

Availability

Whale Eyes is available through major retailers:
Penguin Random House, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, Powell's, and Books A Million.

Book Details:

  • Author: James Robinson

  • Illustrator: Brian Rea

  • Publisher: Penguin Workshop

  • Format: Full-color illustrated memoir

  • Page Count: 304

  • Age Range: 10 – Adult


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Dutch Uncle

Dutch Uncle is an award-winning international illustration and animation agency founded in 2006 by Helen Cowley. With offices in London, New York, and Tokyo, we operate across every major timezone, connecting the world's most ambitious brands with exceptional global creative talent.

Over nearly two decades, Dutch Uncle have built one of the most decorated artist rosters in the industry. Our artists have produced Gold Clio and Cannes Lions award-winning work for clients spanning fashion, luxury, fintech, tech, healthcare, and publishing. We have collaborated on prestige illustration and animation projects for global leaders, including Hermès, Burberry, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Rimowa, as well as Apple, Google, Mercedes, Netflix, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, The New York Times.

We represent illustrators and animation directors who lead their fields in conceptual thinking, visual intelligence, and craft. Artists whose work cuts through algorithmic sameness to deliver genuine cultural impact.

Beyond our core roster, we also draw on an international network of talent across five continents to meet the scale and complexity of any brief.

Dutch Uncle operates as a full-service creative production partner, managing everything from artist sourcing and briefing through to licensing, copyright, animation production, and final delivery.

We specialise in complex, multi-market projects that demand creative precision and seamless execution. Whether that is a single editorial commission, a suite of high-impact social media assets, or a global animated campaign.

For nearly twenty years, the world's leading agencies, publishers, cultural institutions, and brands have trusted us to bring their most ambitious work to life.

https://www.dutchuncle.co.uk
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