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Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Everyone needs a friend to talk to or to play with. Even an imaginary friend can be the best thing ever. So when a little girl goes sailing with her father and older brothers, she’s thrilled to meet a seal named Mary, a seal with a lovely pink bow. But Mary only appears for the little girl. The two start to have adventures together, swimming, exploring the waters looking for treasure, and just being together. Then the fall colors appear, winter is coming and Mary is gone. The little girl is sad and doesn’t understand where Mary could be, that is until her father explains that Mary has left with the other seals, seeking warmer waters in the south. The little girl’s father shares kind words of wisdom to help ease the sorrow: “Mary will come again, when you wish it from your heart,/ cold waters and distance, won’t keep you two apart.” A very profound promise and so true.
Ellen Alden’s picture book story, The Seal with a Pink Bow: A picture book for young kids to explore their imagination, is a delightfully imaginative story. Written in the first person from the little girl’s point of view, the story is told in rhyming verse to appeal to young readers. The illustrations are delightful: bright, colorful, cheery. The plot develops at a steady pace, allowing the story to unfold as the little girl and the seal form a strong bond of friendship. There is so much imagination in this story, it will certainly inspire young readers to allow their own imaginations to blossom. A clever little story about friendships and imagination and a special relationship shared between a father and his daughter. I loved the illustrations and the lyrical rhyming verse that made the story almost sing.
