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The Sea in the Way: A Picture Book About Missing Someone and Finding Wonder for Kids
All Badger wants is to be close to Bear, but the vast, endless sea is in the way. Everything is terrible! Until Badger looks more closely and sees all the beauty--and all the connections to Bear--around her. With dazzling artwork and undeniably lovable characters, acclaimed author-illustrator Sophie Gilmore's The Sea in the Way explores ways to cope with missing a loved one, and how to open yourself up to new experiences.
When it's bedtime for Badger, the sun is rising for Bear. Bear isn't there to tuck Badger in or hear about her day or spend time with her, except on the telephone. Missing Bear, Badger tries to cross the sea to reunite with her friend, but ends up getting tossed right back to where she started. The sea is always in the way!
When the sea requests a few gifts in exchange for safe passage, Badger looks for something special. And looks and looks. Soon enough, she sees the wonders that surround her--and she even makes a new friend! In the end, Badger realizes that Bear may be even closer than she thought.
Readers of The Invisible String will find new friends in Badger, Bear, and Loud Bird.
When it's bedtime for Badger, the sun is rising for Bear. Bear isn't there to tuck Badger in or hear about her day or spend time with her, except on the telephone. Missing Bear, Badger tries to cross the sea to reunite with her friend, but ends up getting tossed right back to where she started. The sea is always in the way!
When the sea requests a few gifts in exchange for safe passage, Badger looks for something special. And looks and looks. Soon enough, she sees the wonders that surround her--and she even makes a new friend! In the end, Badger realizes that Bear may be even closer than she thought.
Readers of The Invisible String will find new friends in Badger, Bear, and Loud Bird.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published September 6, 2022
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Gilmore
6 books4 followersSophie Gilmore is a writer and illustrator living in Italy. She works with watercolour and pen and illustrates friend, foe, and ordinary girls quietly doing extraordinary things. Sometimes all in one book.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 27, 2023
Sweet and thoughtful with lovely art. Another author to read more books by. In the meantime I shall ponder if I need a Badger shelf.
Library copy
Library copy
July 27, 2024
What a warm book to read while missing your lovies
October 31, 2022
If only the Sea wasn't in the way! It's a bit philosophical, aided by a talk through this story with the Sea when Badger learns a new way to communicate with Bear, whom he misses terribly. Beautifully illustrated, and thoughtfully written, Sophie Gilmore shows a way to connect with someone loved who is so far away. This will stir conversations and maybe a few hearts!
April 23, 2023
3.5 stars
November 23, 2022
Beautiful illustrations and affecting story about friends separated by an ocean.
December 29, 2024
Salty & wet tears upon my cheeks for learning how to see through the relentless distance of homesickness
September 19, 2023
Such a fabulous friendship story- very touching and imaginative!
Badger lived far from Bear with the sea in the way.
The sea stretched so far that when nighttime fell for Badger, the sun rose for Bear.
Badger wished Bear could tuck her in.
But the sea was in the way.
Sometimes they called on a crackly telephone line:
"Hello Badger."
"Hullo, Bear."
Hearing Bear's faraway voice made a lump in Badger's throat,
and she couldn't manage another word.
But Bear listened to her silence, too.
In the coldest months, Bear slept for weeks.
Over on Badger's shore, the day grew longer and brighter.
All the while, the sea was in the way.
Enough! thought Badger one afternoon, and she set out to cross it.
But her little boat was tossed like flotsam.
Eventually, Badger found herself right back where she had begun.
She faced the sea.
"YOU ARE IN THE WAY!"
And the sea replied: "Of what?"
"Of me and Bear," Badger said. You are in the way of us."
The sea lapped at Badger's feet.
"What is the sea?" asked the sea.
Badger wiggled her toes. "Wet. And salty."
And if Bear dipped in a toe on her faraway shore?
What would the sea be like there?
"Wet and salty," Badger supposed.
"So.
No matter the distance between shores, the sea is the sea."
"See?"
Badger did not see.
"Fine," sighed the sea. "Bring me something nice, and I'll let you cross."
"Nothing here is nice," grumbled Badger.
But she set off anyway.
For the first time, Badger had to really look.
Is this nice? Badger wondered. She couldn't tell.
"Is this nice?" she asked a bird with feathers the color of a storm.
"CRAW," it shouted.
"Toss it in," said the sea, and the nice thing was swallowed by waves.
"Now bring me something unusual, and I'll let you cross."
This time, Badger knew how to look, and there was much to see.
"CRAW," shouted Loudbird.
And the sea swallowed the unusual thing, too.
"And lastly," rumbled the sea,
"I'd like something loud. Loud, and the color of a storm."
Badger looked at her new friend.
And in the distance, a telephone rang.
"Hello Badger."
"Hullo, Bear!"
Badger had so much to say!
Bear listened with a smile.
And the sea was the sea, salty and wet..."CRAW."
from Badger's shore all the way to Bear's.
Badger lived far from Bear with the sea in the way.
The sea stretched so far that when nighttime fell for Badger, the sun rose for Bear.
Badger wished Bear could tuck her in.
But the sea was in the way.
Sometimes they called on a crackly telephone line:
"Hello Badger."
"Hullo, Bear."
Hearing Bear's faraway voice made a lump in Badger's throat,
and she couldn't manage another word.
But Bear listened to her silence, too.
In the coldest months, Bear slept for weeks.
Over on Badger's shore, the day grew longer and brighter.
All the while, the sea was in the way.
Enough! thought Badger one afternoon, and she set out to cross it.
But her little boat was tossed like flotsam.
Eventually, Badger found herself right back where she had begun.
She faced the sea.
"YOU ARE IN THE WAY!"
And the sea replied: "Of what?"
"Of me and Bear," Badger said. You are in the way of us."
The sea lapped at Badger's feet.
"What is the sea?" asked the sea.
Badger wiggled her toes. "Wet. And salty."
And if Bear dipped in a toe on her faraway shore?
What would the sea be like there?
"Wet and salty," Badger supposed.
"So.
No matter the distance between shores, the sea is the sea."
"See?"
Badger did not see.
"Fine," sighed the sea. "Bring me something nice, and I'll let you cross."
"Nothing here is nice," grumbled Badger.
But she set off anyway.
For the first time, Badger had to really look.
Is this nice? Badger wondered. She couldn't tell.
"Is this nice?" she asked a bird with feathers the color of a storm.
"CRAW," it shouted.
"Toss it in," said the sea, and the nice thing was swallowed by waves.
"Now bring me something unusual, and I'll let you cross."
This time, Badger knew how to look, and there was much to see.
"CRAW," shouted Loudbird.
And the sea swallowed the unusual thing, too.
"And lastly," rumbled the sea,
"I'd like something loud. Loud, and the color of a storm."
Badger looked at her new friend.
And in the distance, a telephone rang.
"Hello Badger."
"Hullo, Bear!"
Badger had so much to say!
Bear listened with a smile.
And the sea was the sea, salty and wet..."CRAW."
from Badger's shore all the way to Bear's.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2022
Badger and Bear are the best of friends and love being with one another. The only problem is that a vast sea stretches between them so they never get to visit each other. However, the sea offers Badger a deal. If he can bring him something nice, the sea will let him cross over to Bear's house. As Badger starts to look for something amazing, he realizes how much of Bear is around him. There's a certain beauty in everything when you take a closer look and it makes Badger not miss Bear so much in his absence.
THE SEA IN THE WAY has cute main characters to set the stage and their friendship is an admirable one. Not only is their friendship an unlikely one because of how much of a predator bears usually are, but the distance makes it even harder. Either way, these two will not let anything stand in their way of being the best of friends. Not even a sea. The watercolor illustrations have a darker theme to them as if a storm accompanies the sea, but the element of friendship is apparent with each turn of the page.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children how love to read stories that's main themes are unlikely friendship and animals. The darker colors would make this a decent bedtime story.
THE SEA IN THE WAY has cute main characters to set the stage and their friendship is an admirable one. Not only is their friendship an unlikely one because of how much of a predator bears usually are, but the distance makes it even harder. Either way, these two will not let anything stand in their way of being the best of friends. Not even a sea. The watercolor illustrations have a darker theme to them as if a storm accompanies the sea, but the element of friendship is apparent with each turn of the page.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children how love to read stories that's main themes are unlikely friendship and animals. The darker colors would make this a decent bedtime story.
January 12, 2023
This tale of separation seems more suited for adults than children—particularly those adults who recognize the rotary telephone that Badger and Bear use to reach across the recalcitrant sea to connect with each other. Yet the lyrical text and finely crafted illustrations lend a kind of poetic gravitas to this story, giving voice to the longing of lonely hearts.
August 4, 2025
Badger lives on one side of a big sea, and Bear lives. on the other side. They talk on the crackly telephone. Badger decides to cross the sea in her boat, but the sea tosses her back onto the shore. I enjoyed the part where the sea was trying to be profound, and Badger didn't get it, so the sea gave in. 😂😂😂 I wasn't sure if I liked the ending, but this was good.
September 6, 2022
Two animal friends separated by a vast body of water find creative ways to stay connected to one another. Instead of ending with a happy reunion, this quiet, thoughtful story's open-ended conclusion leaves readers to wonder about love, longing, listening, and learning.
October 5, 2022
Interesting story. Badger and Bear lives in opposite sides of a sea. Badger becomes frustrated by the distance and decides he wants to cross the sea. The sea gives him tasks to complete and in the process Badger discovers friendship that is close.
Book leaves you thinking in a good way.
Book leaves you thinking in a good way.
October 17, 2022
Sometimes the way to solve a problem is to change one’s perspective. In this case, good friends Badger and Bear are separated by a sea. Their lives are lived oppositely due to where they live. They ultimately find ways to connect which keeps their friendship and caring about each other solid.
November 12, 2022
I am a big fan of all of Sophie Gilmore’s beautiful books, but this is my favourite one yet. A wonderful purchase for children who may have family far away, or who may be moving away themselves. The illustrations are clever and beautiful. Such a talent to be able to write and paint like that!
March 22, 2025
It's hard having friends who live far away, and that concept can be hard for kids especially. This is a nice little book about friends who live far away and what Badger can do about it. The illustrations were nice, and I liked the use of texture with more muted colors. Glad my library had a copy.
October 5, 2022
Two friends learn to navigate a long-distance friendship in this sweet and thoughtful little story.
October 18, 2022
lovely story about friendship and taking time to look around
October 18, 2022
I love Gilmore's soft and expressive illustrations, and enjoyed the idea behind this story, but the message didn't quite come together all the way for me.
October 19, 2022
I don't normally use the word guffaw but that's what this book made me do lol
October 24, 2022
Beautiful story and picture book for children who need guidance on coping with long distance relationships, for any situation.
March 2, 2023
Very cute pictures; enjoyed the tale at the beginning, and a few pages further I didn't anymore because I don't get the point...
March 5, 2023
Lovely illustrations and a touching story. Relatable for those with loved ones far away. But my child found the ending to be anticlamactic.
March 20, 2023
A look at long distance friendship
Read
May 20, 2023absolutely ADORED the illustrations in this…the colors were so lovely and it has the SEA!!! i love the sea!! such a sweet book :)
July 26, 2023
alright
Want to read
April 18, 2025SM
July 1, 2025
If all you do is think about what you are missing, you might also miss what is here.
May 23, 2023
Badger is distraught—the sea stands in the way of her friend, Bear. So, she confronts her enemy, and the sea replies with a deal: Badger must bring some things, and then it will let her cross. In the process of searching for something nice, something unusual, and something loud, Badger begins to appreciate the things around her and (spoiler alert) even warms to the idea of making a new friend. This heartwarming, beautifully illustrated story conveys themes of sorrow, anger, comfort, friendship, acceptance, and hope. The muted color palette pairs perfectly with Badger’s mood and the book’s overall tone. This is the kind of book you’ll want to give a big hug! I hugged my copy all the way home.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews