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  • Published: 6 January 2026
  • ISBN: 9781623545789
  • Imprint: Charlesbridge Children
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $40.00

Welcome to Whalebone Mansion

Creatures That Lurk at a Whale Fall




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!

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.

  • Published: 6 January 2026
  • ISBN: 9781623545789
  • Imprint: Charlesbridge Children
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $40.00

About the authors

Bindy James

Bindy James is an illustrator based in Brisbane. Originally graduating with a degree in Environmental Science in 2004, she transitioned into graphic/motion design and finally illustration in 2012. Bindy brings a unique perspective to her work, blending her genuine interest in the natural world with her creative background. As a mother of two, she is particularly captivated by how young children connect with and learn from their local environments, which often informs her illustrations.