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A story
for children
finding their bravery.
When Cora moves to a brand-new town, everything feels unfamiliar. The nights are quiet. The schoolyard feels overwhelming. And the courage she needs feels far away.
Cora & The Whale: The Light That Found Her is a beautifully illustrated children’s book about navigating change, discovering courage, and learning that light often begins very small.
A story
for children
finding their bravery.
When Cora moves to a brand-new town, everything feels unfamiliar. The nights are quiet. The schoolyard feels overwhelming. And the courage she needs feels far away.
Cora & The Whale: The Light That Found Her is a beautifully illustrated children’s book about navigating change, discovering courage, and learning that light often begins very small.
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Cora is thoughtful, observant, and tender-hearted. After moving to a new town, she feels small in a very big world. Her journey is not about fixing fear—but about discovering that bravery can grow quietly, from the inside out.
Meet Cora
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Sævar (SAY-var) is a calm, gentle guide who rises from the sea when Cora needs him most. He doesn’t rush her or demand bravery—he simply teaches her how to care for the light she already carries.
Meet Sævar the Whale
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
The lantern begins with only a faint glow. As Cora explores, connects, and trusts herself, the light grows brighter. The lantern represents courage, hope, and the quiet strength children carry within them.
The Lantern & the Light
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
High above the sea, puffins flutter and swoop along Iceland’s cliffs. Sævar teaches Cora the word Lundi (LOON-dee)—puffin—and in that moment, something warm stirs inside her. Naming the world helps her feel connected to it.
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Beside a glowing glacier, blue as crystal, Cora steps inside a shining ice cave. Jökull (YUH-kull) means glacier. As the lantern reflects off the ice, Cora notices the light growing stronger—both around her and within her.
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
At Skógafoss, mist sparkles beneath the glowing sky. Sævar explains that foss means waterfall. Cora feels tiny—and strong—all at once, learning that strength doesn’t mean being loud.
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Under ribbons of green and purple light, Sævar reminds Cora that the Aurora appears when the night is dark enough. By morning, Cora wakes changed—ready to step forward, say hello, and make space for others to feel less alone.
The Northern Lights
& New Beginnings
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Cora is thoughtful, observant, and tender-hearted. After moving to a new town, she feels small in a very big world. Her journey is not about fixing fear—but about discovering that bravery can grow quietly, from the inside out.
Meet Cora
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Sævar (SAY-var) is a calm, gentle guide who rises from the sea when Cora needs him most. He doesn’t rush her or demand bravery—he simply teaches her how to care for the light she already carries.
Meet Sævar the Whale
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
The lantern begins with only a faint glow. As Cora explores, connects, and trusts herself, the light grows brighter. The lantern represents courage, hope, and the quiet strength children carry within them.
The Lantern & the Light
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
High above the sea, puffins flutter and swoop along Iceland’s cliffs. Sævar teaches Cora the word Lundi (LOON-dee)—puffin—and in that moment, something warm stirs inside her. Naming the world helps her feel connected to it.
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Beside a glowing glacier, blue as crystal, Cora steps inside a shining ice cave. Jökull (YUH-kull) means glacier. As the lantern reflects off the ice, Cora notices the light growing stronger—both around her and within her.
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
At Skógafoss, mist sparkles beneath the glowing sky. Sævar explains that foss means waterfall. Cora feels tiny—and strong—all at once, learning that strength doesn’t mean being loud.
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Meet Cora
Meet Sævar the Whale
The Lantern & the Light
Glaciers & Ice Caves
Skógafoss & Iceland’s Power
Puffin Cliffs & Mossy Shores
The Northern Lights & New Beginnings
Under ribbons of green and purple light, Sævar reminds Cora that the Aurora appears when the night is dark enough. By morning, Cora wakes changed—ready to step forward, say hello, and make space for others to feel less alone.
The Northern Lights
& New Beginnings
You can follow Cora’s journey in real life
Cora & The Whale: The Light That Found Her was inspired by real places across Iceland—places that exist, that can be visited, and that hold the same quiet magic found in the story.
While Cora’s journey unfolds on the back of a gentle whale, the landscapes she explores are very real—and families can experience them too.
This story was shaped by firsthand travel, time spent in these locations, and moments of awe that stayed long after returning home.
Cora's Travel guide coming soon!
Inspired by real Iceland locations you can experience
You can follow Cora’s journey in real life
Cora & The Whale: The Light That Found Her was inspired by real places across Iceland—places that exist, that can be visited, and that hold the same quiet magic found in the story.
While Cora’s journey unfolds on the back of a gentle whale, the landscapes she explores are very real—and families can experience them too.
This story was shaped by firsthand travel, time spent in these locations, and moments of awe that stayed long after returning home.
Cora's Travel guide coming soon!
Inspired by real Iceland locations you can experience
The Dream That Became a Journey
More than ten years ago, I had a vivid dream. I woke up and wrote it down, knowing it was a story I needed to share.
At the time, my two daughters were young and starting a new school after a move. They missed their friends. I was also a preschool teacher, and I could already picture myself reading this story at circle time—holding up the pages, hearing the excitement as each new image was revealed.
But life kept getting in the way.
Then I traveled to Iceland.
I’ve explored the world my entire life, but nothing compared to how Iceland made me feel. I came home completely recharged—full of life, clarity, and a deep sense of belonging. Iceland felt like home.
I’ve now been five times, with more trips already in the works. Each visit brings new magic. On one whale-watching trip, a whale stayed with us—calm, gentle, rising from the water again and again, so close it felt like he was inviting us into his world. That moment inspired Sævar and pushed me to finally finish Cora & The Whale.
What began as a dream became a story—and then something more.
The places in this book are real. The magic is real. And the adventure is something your family can experience too.
Husavik Whale watching tour
The Dream That Became a Journey
More than ten years ago, I had a vivid dream. I woke up and wrote it down, knowing it was a story I needed to share.
At the time, my two daughters were young and starting a new school after a move. They missed their friends. I was also a preschool teacher, and I could already picture myself reading this story at circle time—holding up the pages, hearing the excitement as each new image was revealed.
But life kept getting in the way.
Then I traveled to Iceland.
I’ve explored the world my entire life, but nothing compared to how Iceland made me feel. I came home completely recharged—full of life, clarity, and a deep sense of belonging. Iceland felt like home.
I’ve now been five times, with more trips already in the works. Each visit brings new magic. On one whale-watching trip, a whale stayed with us—calm, gentle, rising from the water again and again, so close it felt like he was inviting us into his world. That moment inspired Sævar and pushed me to finally finish Cora & The Whale.
What began as a dream became a story—and then something more.
The places in this book are real. The magic is real. And the adventure is something your family can experience too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cora & The Whale: The Light That Found Her was written and designed by Kristen Vann, a mother, visual storyteller, and graphic designer with a BFA from SCAD. Inspired by a long-held dream and real experiences in Iceland, this story was intentionally crafted—every word and image—to honor the quiet bravery children carry through big transitions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cora & The Whale: The Light That Found Her was written and designed by Kristen Vann, a mother, visual storyteller, and graphic designer with a BFA from SCAD. Inspired by a long-held dream and real experiences in Iceland, this story was intentionally crafted—every word and image—to honor the quiet bravery children carry through big transitions.
