Selkie

by Gillian McClure

Peter is curious about the legend of the selkie, a seal who can turn into a girl. When his curiosity gets the better of him, he discovers that the selkie is more than just a legend-she is a friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 1999

About the author

Gillian McClure’s career as an author and illustrator spans four decades. She has been Highly Commended in the Kate Greenaway Medal and won the US Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Books. Her books have been translated into many different languages.
Gillian has served on the CWIG committee, the Public Lending Right Advisory Committee, served as a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the universities of Kent and Essex, and has mentored emerging authors on the Escalator scheme. From 2010 - 2016 she also ran her own publishing company, Plaister Press, to celebrate the art of the picture book.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this original story based on the selkie tradition of Scotland - apparently it was inspired by the author's trip to the island of Colonsay - Gillian McClure spins a tale of a boy, his fascination with nearby Seal Island, and its phocine residents, and his friendship with a young selkie-girl. Although warned by his granny to stay away from the island, Peter cannot resist its lure, following the crusty oysterman across the sands, during low tide, and meeting and befriending Selkie, a seal-girl he finds trapped in a net. When the oysterman captures Selkie, and holds her prisoner, determined to extract information about harvesting the riches of the sea, it falls to Peter to free his new friend...

I can't say that the story here worked as well for me, as some of the more traditional selkie tales I have read - titles like Mordicai Gerstein's The Seal Mother , or Susan Cooper's The Selkie Girl - but it was engaging enough, particularly when joined to McClure's artwork, which I did enjoy. Her palette is well suited to a depiction of the sea, and some of her border work, using sea motifs, was quite lovely. Recommended to young readers looking for original, rather than traditional selkie stories.

[Gillian McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was inspired by holidays I had on the Isles of Colonsay and Oronsay. When I wrote the story I didn't know the selkie folk tales, I simply had a definition of a selkie: 'A selkie is a seal that can take off its seal skin and become human. A selkie knows the language of the sea'. Based on this, I wrote my story and only when I had finished did I discover there were many selkie stories. Mine fitted in with them, the only difference was that my selkie was a young girl.

[Sara Cornell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book because it weaves in the Scottish myth of the "Selkie" with a really important message. It's a fun look at Scottish culture and also shows that kid's can stand up for people. Peter risks his own life to save Selkie which is a really cool example of friendship and sacrifice.

Lexil: 550L
Guided Reading: J

Trait: Idea

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard of this fairytale in the autobiography of my favorite author, Maggie O’Farrell. I was so excited when just a few days later, this book was on display at a library that I’ve only visited once before! Interesting tale and beautiful illustrations.

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another longtime family favorite. The illustrations are gorgeous with seashell borders and diving seals and the ocean colors are accurately described as "luminous" on the dust jacket. We read a lot of folklore around here and the tales of the selkies are ones we can't live without.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this very author come in my school she was very nice

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about a selkie!

Reading about selkies for our LA folklore unit!

[Lizzy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, really enjoyed reading it when I was younger

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about friendship with a folklore sort of twist, I remember finding this book as a child and being immediately fascinated by the beautifully drawn illustrations. The story is well paced and just detailed enough to make it come alive. I haven't outgrown it yet :)

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have this book but it has a different cover. Its about a boy who follows an oysterman to a selkie and the selkie gets caught. Its cool and selkies are my favourite mythical animal.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated children's folk tale. A lovely edition for about age 7.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh. I like the selkie legends, but this book didn't grab me or the child.