The Seal on the Beach

"A story to treasure, to remember, to dream of"- Michael Morpurgo

An inspiring story of hope and survival written and illustrated with lyricism, empathy and warmth

Maggie is on holiday with her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile her mum waits for Maggie’s baby brother to come home from hospital. On a walk across the wild Norfolk shoreline, Maggie finds a seal pup stranded on the beach, all alone. She is the sweetest thing Maggie has ever seen. But without her mum, how will the seal survive? Who will rescue her and will she ever be returned to the sea, and find her family again? Expressed through her vivid dreams and thoughtful actions, Maggie longs for the rescue and survival of this dear little seal pup. And, all the while, she hopes with all her heart to be reunited with her own mum and baby brother again.

“An inspiring picture book story of hope and survival written and illustrated with lyricism, empathy and warmth. The perfect read for animal lovers who dream of making a difference. Vividly captures the dreamy-sharp textures of a child’s anxiety.”

- Guardian

“I emerged feeling that I had been inside this world and out of my own - and for me, that's one of the most important things I want from a book. That this happens is partly because of the strength of the story - but also because of the space which is taken by Mara to describe the detail of this world and make it real.”

- Sue Purkiss, An Awfully Big Blog Adventure

“I liked this book. The pictures were like when I went on holiday and I saw a seal. It was sad. The seal lost its mummy and daddy. I liked the end when the seal got better and she went back into the sea. Now I know what to do if I see a seal that is hurt.”

- Adam, 5 years old, Books Up North

“Mara Bergman’s episodic, poetic prose is every bit as elegant as Brita Granstrom’s beautiful watercolours, which are a joy to behold. Feast your eyes on the seaweed, snail and shell strewn endpapers before reading the story with children. For adult sharers it will likely bring back memories of their own childhood summer seaside adventures.”

- Jill R. Bennett, Red Reading Hub

“Written in a strongly poetic style, the text is light and well chosen, mirrored by Granström’s characteristic illustrations which are typically full of warmth and feeling. This story provides many talking points, gently exposing the youngest readers to the potential of family disruption and ill health; the concept of patience and the time it takes for healing in both the human and the natural world; the sense that even in the very young individual responsibility can be found and conservation can lie in your hands. Yet because these themes are met with such beautiful full colour spreads, and because the language used is so thoughtfully selected, the story remains overwhelmingly hopeful ”

- Books for keeps