Mister Seahorse

by Eric Carle

This is a stunning new picture book from Eric Carle about Mister Seahorse and other 'male mothers', with special acetate pages that hide fish behind rocks and reeds. As he floats through the sea, Mister Seahorse meets a Mr Stickleback, Mr Tilapia, Mr Kurtus and many other fish fathers caring for their eggs and babies in the most surprising ways.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Science, Nature, Family, Storytime

34 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2004

About the author

Eric Carle was an American author, designer and illustrator of children's books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, first published in 1969, has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. Carle's career as an illustrator and children's book author accelerated after he collaborated on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Carle illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world.
In 2003, the American Library Association awarded Carle the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award), a prize for writers or illustrators of children's books published in the U.S. who have made lasting contributions to the field. Carle was also a U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle is a very colorful story that introduces children to "male mothers" who are left responsible to care for the eggs.

It's super colorful like other Carle books, but what we loved most about it was the intermittent clear pages that cover and hide other fish. Children will love the discoveries they find underneath. It's also a good size hardcover with large pages and text.

5*****

[Spencer Orey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some colorful illustrations, a chill vibe, and a generally nice concept, paired with a poorly dated text.

The concept is to show different sea creatures where the male takes care of the eggs until they hatch. That's great!

The text itself sucks in a lot of small ways. The sea creatures are all married (Mr/Mrs seahorse, Mr/Mrs stickleback), which is unnecessary. One of the fish says that he's "babysitting" until Mrs. whatever comes back (fellow dads, you aren't "babysitting" when you take care of your kids).

Ah but I do love how every other page, Mr. Seahorse "floats gently through the ocean" and sees something interesting, hiding behind a semi-translucent page that you have to turn. Those parts are the best. I also like it when he talks to other fish upside-down.

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a simple, informative text, combined with Eric Carle's magical, colourful illustrations (I love all of them, but I think my favourite is the depiction of the lion fish hiding among the coral reefs), this absolute gem of a picture book demonstrates in a fun, but educational manner that especially in the ocean, it is often the male of the species that hatches and watches over the eggs, the new generation. Recommended for young children interested in science, sea creatures, ecology, Mister Seahorse is simple and fun enough to be understood and appreciated by most toddlers, but involved, detailed and busy enough to be enjoyed by slightly older children as well (up to and including ages five or six, perhaps even seven or eight). Perfect for a read aloud at home or the library, this book would also work well in a preschool or grade one classroom, perhaps as part of a unit on science, ecology, or even the family (stressing the fact that in the ocean, it is often "Mister Seahorse" and other males which take care of and protect the offspring).

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely look into the ocean where a seahorse father is looking after his offspring. Lovely illustrations and an interesting and informative story.

Read on open library.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautiful to look at! I beamed with delight as soon as Mom held it up in front of me. She said she likes how it "subtly challenges gender norms by highlighting fathers engaged in child-rearing activities." I don't know what a "gender" is, but I have a great-grandpa and he is a Norm. Whatever you say, Mom! -M

[Canette Arille · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the next Eric Carle book I have read. I like his children's books because they are interesting. In this book, I like the illustrations and the cover. The book is about Mr. Seahorse, who, while sailing through the sea, meets many other fish fathers, caring for their eggs and babies, in the various ways.
At last the babies tumbled from Mr. Seahorse pouch, and swam away.
The book is easy and quick to read, while looking at nice illustrations.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book! I love Eric Carle stuff, anyway, but hadn't tried anything new for awhile. (The Very Hungry Caterpillar and I go WAY back!) This has all the whimsy and color that makes Carle's art so distinct, and some fun surprises for kids like film-y pages with seaweed and such painted on them so it appears that certain fish are hiding behind it until you turn that page. What is especially fun is that the book is about fathers caring for their young (eggs). I didn't realize that the seahorse is just one of several sea creatures that does so. As father seahorse strolls along meeting other fish fathers and offering praise and encouragement, I had fun meeting them too. So cute! And a nice way to show care-giving fathers since so many of care-giving themed books tend to be mother-oriented.

[Anners · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive and bizarre, this story might just be the only Eric Carle book I’m not wild about. I picked it up before picture book time once, thinking to myself "Anything by Eric Carle must be at least decent, right?" Big mistake. You know those picture books that are just plain *strange*? -- the ones where the illustrations don't make sense or overshadow the plot line, or where the narrative is pointless and pedantic? This is one of those books. The story, clearly intended to instruct children on how the role of the father in nature can take on many forms, follows a seahorse as he bumps into various other animal fathers in the ocean who happen to be taking care of their offspring too. The illustrations are (true to typical Eric Carle style) gorgeous and colorful, but the glossy transparencies that are occasionally sandwiched in between the pages seemed a bit forced and random, as if the publishers just wanted to come up with something new with which to dazzle kids. The real kicker comes on the last page, however, after his babies are born, when our protagonist, who up until now has been anthropomorphized as a wholesome father figure, suddenly and all too soon declares that while he loves his newborn children, they “are now ready to be on [their] own” and the story ends as the baby seahorses swim away. I was left with an awkward, overall “huh?” feeling. Not only did the ending seem rather slapdash, but there is also the problem of consistency. Namely, the ending isn’t consistent in maintaining the make-believe world in which sea creatures talk like humans and have human emotions. I got the sense that Carle concentrated more heavily on making the illustrations look cool and on the idea behind the story (fathers being active participants in nurturing their young) than on fully developing a narrative that makes sense and that people will enjoy.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

A male seahorse does his duty as the dad taking care of the eggs! As he floats through the sea we meet other fish fathers caring for their eggs and babies in the most surprising ways.

My nephew LOVED, LOVED the acetate pages. They so delighted him that when the pattern was broken near the end of the book he was QUITE disappointed! We loved the illustrations too! He's gotten into making his drawings into watercolors with his grandmother and this book was PERFECT for a watercolor artist!!

The story is quite repetitive but there are also A LOT of words so that balanced out nicely. There were a couple of fish names that were hard for him but it was great practice sounding out new words! Just a really nice balance... Eric Carle is obviously a master picture book author!!

I quite LOVED the odd fish father's role subject of the book. It's so cool to teach kids things they wouldn't normally be exposed to in such a surprising and not obviously educational way. It makes it such a pleasure to learn that learning becomes natural!! WE NEED MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS! Totally recommend for home libraries!!

BOTTOM LINE: GAH! Sea horses + FATHER egg duties!! * surprise pages = PERFECT!

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Ruhama · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Seahorse and Mrs. Seahorse are going to be parents! Mrs. Seahorse lays the eggs in Mr. Seahorse’s pouch and then he has the job of taking care of those eggs until they hatch. As he waits, he meets several other father fish who are in charge of their eggs or babies. In the end, the babies successfully leave Mr. Seahorse and his life goes back to “normal.” This is a beautiful book, in typical Eric Carle style, with amazing artwork and soft colors befitting the ocean. The storyline, however, leaves much to be desired. A unique idea, this book tackles
various creatures of the sea that usually don’t get specific mention in picture books, but the method falls short of it’s potential. The ending is quite abrupt, and readers will feel something is missing. Overall I was disappointed with this book.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute celebration of fatherhood--just when I need it most.

[L.E. Fidler · Rating 3 out of 5]

the art in this book is beautiful. the story creeps me out.

the narrative begins with mrs. seahorse wiggling and waggling and doing some sort of weird babydance and putting some eggs into mr. seahorse's pouch.

i love a little sex in my books, but the procreative habits of seahorses doesn't really scream "bedtime story!" to me.

then, mr. seahorse traverses the ocean where he meets several other men who are carrying their own baby-eggs safely across the waters (while passing hidden fishies along the way). sure, to a 2.5 year old who doesn't know any better, it's a cute little story, but to a seasoned female reader it feels a bit "we men rule! good job, bro! way to carry those eggs!"

i don't know, maybe it would have been cuter if the hubby read this one to the kiddo.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book struck me as kind of repetitive when I first read it (and it is), but my two-year-old really likes it and requests it often, so it's grown on me.

The illustrations are amazing as usual, with bright, nontraditionally colored seahorses. The narrative itself is interspersed with some fish that "hide" behind nearly-transparent pages, which is fun for kids.

The other great thing about this story is that it focuses on fathers in the animal kingdom. Even though the fish here are anthropomorphized enough to talk to each other, they are still representatives of actual fathers in the animal kingdom who take care of their own eggs/children. I think this is much needed in the often mother-dominated depictions of animals and their babies.

[Jean Petrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Carle's distinctive bright creatures abound in this Laura Ingalls Wilder Award winner. The story is about fathers that care for their eggs until they hatch. The beautiful illustrations also have several acetate pages that hide something - it is a mystery until you turn away the page and see what is behind the acetate drawing. The repetitive phrase is: "as Mr Seahorse drifted gently through the sea". The text describes his journey through the sea and tells how on the way he meets other fathers, like a lionfish hidden behind the acetate page of a coral reef. The plot shares that not only mothers look after the young. The tissue paper collage illustrations are beautiful. The age group is Grades 1 to 3.

[Felicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another where I can appreciate the sentiment. Fathers can nurture their children too. But, it's another that is full of clunky mouth fulls of repetition. I know that young children like repetition, but my son does not particularly care for this kind.

And, frankly, some of the dialogue just creeps me out. Also, the part about the father "babysitting" his children rubbed me the wrong way, and seemed like a misstep in a book about how dads can be awesome too. It's parenting, not babysitting! Geeze fish, get it right. At the end, Mr. Seahorse tells his children that he loves them but it's time for them to be on their own. They only just hatched! Cold.

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be more aptly titled, "Not-So-Passive-Agressive Morality Tale for Human Dads to Help Out More With the Baby."

[Miles Row · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an interesting early introduction to diversity of sealife fathers which primarily care for eggs.

[Michelle Haggard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to add to a children’s collection. With transparent pages to find hidden fish, my 1 year old and 3 year old love it.

[Rachel Pinkney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the acetate sheets, brilliant pics. New book for me too.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story to see and it should have been a giveaway as to the story since it is Mister Seahorse. Instead I was thinking there may be another story about maybe a rainbow sea horse but pleasantly it is about learning male parenting strategies under the sea whether the male is the one guarding the eggs, watching the young, carrying the eggs, etc.

And upon looking at the reviews I know there were a few readers who thought the end was cold but he being true to a male seahorse. There is no complaint about the mom who appeared only in the starting pages then vanished. I don't think we can judge the way of natures although it may make some of our stories a bit sadder or even seemingly cold.

The writing is a bit on the repetitive side since the story is to find other male parents and I applaud the fact that the seahorse actually knows these other fathers although it may have been better if he may not have thus allowing the other fathers a bigger role in the story. The other problem there was in the story was behind the transparencies were other fish who weren't part of the story. Although I liked the whole hide and seek it makes it seem like it should have been another book as these characters never truly showed up in the story otherwise.

This is going to be one of those books that will be good for the father in your household to read to his little one or even to be read to on Father's Day as a tender reminder of how just important fathers can be in our lives.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critique- Picture Book/Laura Ingalls Wilder Award

Mr. Seahorse must care for Mrs. Seahorses’ eggs until they hatch. As he is waiting for the eggs to develop and hatch, he drifts through the sea and he meets other father fish that are taking care of eggs as well. By the end of the story the baby seahorses hatch and must begin life on their own.

a. Illustrations/Pictures
b. The illustrations are done in very vivid colors, and in the technique that is very typical of Eric Carle, through collage/watercolor. An interesting element to this book is the pages that are done as a clear sheet with a colored image placed on them. This allows the reader to see parts of the following page, and is wonderful tool for enticing prediction making in the reader.
c. One example of this is a clear page with brown coral printed on it. Behind the coral a vague image of a fish can be seen. When the reader turns the page, they see it is a lionfish hidden behind the coral.

I believe this book could be used in a variety of classes and with a variety of ages. There are the artistic elements of the book that lend this to an art lesson on collage or watercolor and could be used with a more mature audience. The story also has science and biological elements that can be used in a science lesson with younger or older students.

[briz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fills me with a righteous fire. I want to thrust it into the hands - or better yet, the hands of the children of - all those socially conservative traditionalists/bigots who say things like it's "not natural" to do X gender or Y sex thing. Remember Jordan Peterson and his lobster? And how he got basic biology wrong? That's how I feel when social conservatives talk about "nature" - I'm like, bro, do u even science? Do u even biology? Because dolphins are super gay. As are penguins, and albatrosses. "Natural" for women to be carers/nurturers loving their babies? Well, in seahorse world, it is indeed MISTER seahorse that carries the babies and births them. SO TAKE THAT.

Anyway, on top of this righteous fire, the book is immensely colorful (it is Eric Carle, after all), and interactive - there are trumpet fish hiding behind seaweed, and lionfish by coral. It is a feast. An underwater feast!

[Simon Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mister Seahorse tells the story of a father-to-be seahorse, and his encounters with a variety of other male sea creatures who are also awaiting little ones - and who are all acting as 'primary carers'.

We meet Mr. Tilapia, who is holding his eggs in his mouth, Mr. Kurtus, who holds them on his head, and many other expectant new age dads.

The message gets a bit lost at one point - for example, when Mr. Bullhead says he is 'babysitting' - and it seems as if perhaps more could have been made of the theme. The ending isn't really consistent with the rest of the story, and the flow is interrupted by encounters with other sea creatures that have nothing to do with the main plot.

Nevertheless, it is an excellent idea, with a very important message for children, and it has the unmistakable imprint and vibrant colours of Eric Carle's unique artistic style. For very young readers, the repetition - and other criticism here - would not really be an issue.

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle follows a father seahorse through the sea after his wife lays her eggs inside him. He swims passed many hidden fish, but also along the way, he meets other fish fathers who are also taking care of their eggs that their mate had laid. Every fish takes care of them in a different way. In the end, the seahorse eggs hatch, and they swim off. One tries to stay in Mister Seahorse's pouch, but Mister Seahorse tells the baby seahorse that he loves him, and that he is ready.

I give this book 4/5 stars. The illustrations are wonderful of course because the story is by Eric Carle. It is also very educational to see the different ways that fish eggs are taken care of before they hatch, and they are all taken care of by the father. It is repetitive, and I don't really understand the point of Mister Seahorse passing all the hidden fish, but it is a very good story for young readers because of the repetitive, predictable way of the story.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Color and Eric Carle always are together and this is a super title with an ocean theme, illustrated vinyl overlays to hide the various fish, basic natural history about small sea creatures. Most importantly though is the theme: Dads caring for their unborn and newborns--Dads take our children and read this with them in your lap.
Carle has given us such a great story to share and show love with children and fathers and as always Carle has produced a great work of art--the vinly overlays make this one special.

F
First read this in 2013 and as a read it is even better than the first time around and heavens our society needs to see males being good stents and taking care of children. 4/28/2023.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a wonderful story about various sea creatures, demonstrating a few examples in nature where the father takes an active role in either caring for the eggs or the babies (or perhaps both). This is a typically illustrated book for Mr. Carle and our girls enjoyed the drawings and the vellum pages that hide a few surprising fish. Overall, a great story that provides an opportunity to generate a few questions/discussion between parent and child. We've read this book a few times.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so first I love sea horses, so immediately drawn to this. Next, I like that it teaches kids the different ways male fish are involved in the aftermath of reproduction. The dialogue/wording isn't anything spectacular, but the pictures make up for it. is like one little art project all rolled into one. The colors are great, pages show texture without touch, and the see through pages are super fun.

Definitely recommend.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations, and a concept that is not often covered in picture books - in sea life, it is sometimes the male of the species that carries, hatches, or tends to offspring. However, there is a page in which one of the fathers is referred to as "babysitting" his children, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. You are not babysitting. You are parenting. If I read this to one of my kids, they would get an earful about that.

[David Haye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be 5-Stars, except for the line about Mr. Bullhead "babysitting" his own children. I think that especially in a book about animal Fathers having positive impacts on the raising of their children, use of that phrase undercuts the overall message. Fathers who care for their children are no more "babysitting" than Mothers are.

[Skye Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really gorgeous and colorful illustrations and cute little story. My daughter likes the clear pages in between. Very fun! The words are a little clunky at times and don’t read as sweet and sing songy as I might have liked, so my daughter sometimes gets a little antsy as I’m reading. But she is still very young so that could definitely change as time goes on.(: