Children's Book review

Seal Surfer

By Michael Foreman

Published by Andersen Press

A welcome re-publication for Foreman's timeless and evocative account of a boy's relationship with life and death. Walking on the cliffs with his grandfather in spring, the boy witnesses the seal's birth, watches its growth, and in the summer is rescued by it when surfing. By the next spring, grandfather comes no more, and the seals are gone, but in the summer the young seal returns with her own pup, as the boy will return in the future with his own grandchildren. Magical, tender illustrations support a powerful text which addresses trust, love and the ability of relationships to transcend generations, species, abilities and even death itself. Foreman makes a statement by including disabled characters in his pictures, without comment.

Reading age: 6+
Interest level: 5+