I Want to Build a Seahouse

by Whitney Moran, Josée Bisaillon (Artwork by)

I want to build a seahouse
A place that’s just for me…

In a lighthouse on the sea lives a young girl who is about to become a big sister. Trouble is, she doesn’t want a little sister. With her peaceful life disrupted, the girl’s only option is to run away—and build her very own seahouse! With a foghorn for a doorbell and a fence of fishing rope, windows made of sea glass, buoys to help it float—and a pirate flag for safety (of course), she’ll have everything she needs.
The girl imagines all of the adventures she’ll have, talking parrot in tow: harvesting seaweed from her garden; telling ghost stories to merfolk; charting the tides and sailing by moonlight. But there’s a loneliness that creeps in whenever she thinks of her family back on land. And there’s those pesky stormy seas to consider…
A poetic ode to the childhood yearning for freedom, sprinkled with new-sibling jealousy, the debut picture book by editor Whitney Moran, whimsically illustrated with a magnificent coastal palette by award-winning artist Josée Bisaillon, is a heartfelt story of family and independence, and a celebration of imagination and the natural world.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorable book! The illustrations are cute❤ each page is beautiful and it was a complete pleasure to read. I would highly reccomend

Many thanks to the Author, Nimbus publishing and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

[shesellsseashells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my book, so I’m sending it into the world with all the stars, to help it navigate its way. I hope you love it. 💜🌊

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully poetic book about love.

[Lana Shupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book was one of my most highly anticipated books for 2023 and it did not disappoint!

When a big sister has had enough of her new baby's crying, she decides to run away, or should I say row away, and build a seahouse on the water that is just for her. She makes friends with sea creatures of all kinds and enjoys her time alone, but... I won't spoil the ending. You will just have to read it for yourself!

The imagery evoked by the rhyming verses will delight the listener and the accompanying illustrations will entertain the viewer. A book to be returned to again and again for it's sweet story and its many faceted illustrations.

[Mary Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for this copy of I Want to Build a Seahouse by Whitney Moran in exchange for a honest review.I shared this book with my grandson and preschool class.This is a well written childrens book about a little girl who wants to build a seahouse to explore the world and see all that life has to offer her- different creatures to befriend, new foods to try and lots of adventure but maybe she realizes she misses her family.Cute book.

[Megan Bey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining book with fun illustrations! I enjoyed the whimsical story of living on a sea house but ultimately realizing she also wants her real house too because a house isn’t complete without family.

Thank you, Netgalley and Nimbus Publishing, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child annoyed with the new arrival in the family flees out to sea in a floating refuge. Or so her imagination leads her to think – she can imagine dressing it up like this, doing that, and seeing the other – until of course she realises what she might actually be missing were she to do so. Really strong verse certainly sells this book, for the artwork was not much to my liking. But it shows a love of the nautical life, and a typical response to a newborn, in perfect combination, meaning this is a book designed for a topic and a purpose, that can actually be read and found delightful. If I could forgive the visuals this might have been five stars, but as it is it's a chunk less.

[sweet orange books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sweet story of an older sister who wants to build a seahouse far away from home after her new sibling is born. She imagines all of her new adventures, the great house she will build, the new friends she will make, the diaries she will write, but then realizes that there would also be lonely, stormy, and scary days, all alone and far from home. In the end, she decides to build her seahouse, but keep her real house too :)

A sweet story about the meaning of home and family.

Thank you NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Katie Nourse · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adventurous imagination of life at sea. Through ebbs and flows the little child talks about living at sea when a new family member arrives to stay. Through beautiful rhyming and captivating illustrations this book is a good read for children.

[Ruth Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way the colourful and engaging illustrations worked with the story. It was a delight to read and perfectly expressed that "run away from home" feeling everyone gets from time to time.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone needs a little alone time sometimes and an amazing floating sea house is a wonderful place to imagine for time away from being a big sister or whatever ails you

[Raya P Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just lovely!

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Cute Children's Book that I read to my twin boys. This book is all about a little girl who is upset when her little sister first comes home. I found this book to be so cute and fun to read. I think the pictures were super cute. I also loved the ending of this book so much because the girl comes to understand she loves her little sister and her new family. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.