The Seal on the Beach

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.

Written in a strongly poetic style, the text is light and well chosen, mirrored by Granstrom’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
This treasure of a picture book celebrates the delights of a British seaside holiday…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. Red Reading Hub
This is a beautiful, lyrical, incredibly touching story. It could almost be a book of poems. Its ‘chapters’ are short, sweet and set out to look like poems, accompanied by the most wonderful watercolour illustrations, they truly bring the story to life, they take us into Magie’s thoughts, fears, hopes, and show us how events unfold through her eyes. Mara Bergman and Brita Granstrom have, with their words and illustrations, made a story that will stay in the hearts and minds of its readers for a very long time. The Seal on the Beach is a magical, incredibly special story, and make sure to turn the pages all the way to the very end for there is a note about the inspiration for this story, a heartwarming one. Armadillo Magazine
beautiful, atmospheric illustrations...I strongly recommend this charming picture book. The Letterpress Project

Mara Bergman is an award-winning children’s writer, poet and editor. She was born in NYC on leap year day and grew up on Long Island, and though she’s lived most of her life in the UK, she’s never lost her accent. Mara has always felt a strong link between poetry and picture books and loves to write both. Her picture books have won numerous awards in the UK and US; Oliver Who Would Not Sleep was a Bookstart choice and appeared on CBeebies, along with Itchy Itch Itch, illustrated by Emily Bolam. Oliver Who Travelled Far and Wide won the Booktrust Early Years Award. Her books have been translated into many languages worldwide.
Brita Granström is a multi-award winning illustrator of children’s books, and has twice been shortlisted for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Brita was born near Eskilstuna in Sweden and studied at Konstfack in Stockholm. Although her Nordic roots remain self-evident in work made on location; both indoors and outdoors, and in all weathers, she has lived and painted in the UK since 1994. Her paintings are in private and public collections around the world and she has appeared on television and radio.

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