Martha was raised on her nana’s stories, as magical as the sea. She can escape into them while everything changes around her, and pretend that her nana isn’t ill or that her cousins haven’t moved away. That magic delivers her Liqourice, a seal pup who appears out of the waves. Could she be the key to fixing everything that’s wrong or will Martha need to fight her own way through the storm?
I do love the powerhouse combination of Sarah Ann Juckes and Sharon King-Chai – such eloquent stories combined with striking, beautiful illustrations. In their third collaboration, Storm Seal, it is nautical magic. Sarah Ann Juckes is such a sublime writer and is on the Katya Balen level of characterisation for me: her books radiate such hope, warmth and relatability for readers and this story really transports us to this gorgeous coastal town (I could practically smell the sea salt and fresh fish!). Storm Seal is a gorgeous book to develop empathy for its readers – how do we react to changes? A grandparent becoming ill? Loved ones moving? Navigating new friendships? Like The Hunt for the Nightingale (review here) and The Night Animals (review here), Storm Seal is another unmissable treat.
Suggested reading age: 9+
Storm Seal is written by Sarah Ann Juckes and illustrated by Sharon King-Chai. It will be published by Simon & Schuster on 4th July 2024. You should definitely preorder your copy today!
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