Children of the Whales #16

Abi Umeda's *Children of the Whales* reaches its sixteenth volume with a cover that's equal parts whimsical and wistful — a young child in a leather aviator cap and oversized goggles cradles a miniature version of the Mud Whale itself, the series' beloved floating island-vessel, in cupped palms while offering a cheerful thumbs-up. Surrounding the figure are softly rendered mechanical gears and delicate botanical patterns, hinting at the world's peculiar blend of the organic and the mechanical. It's the kind of image that reminds you why this series, now well into its run in 2021, has such a devoted following — quietly beautiful and full of heart.