Seababy: A Little Otter Returns Home

by Ellen Levine, Jon Van Zyle (Illustrations)

After a baby otter is separated from his mother during a storm, he washes up on shore alone and exhausted. A human rescues him and takes him to an aquarium where he's taught how to survive in the wild―lessons his own mother would have taught if they hadn't been separated. Seababy learns important tasks like diving, swimming, and eating, and before long he is well prepared to return home to the sea. Based on an actual program run by Monterey Bay Aquarium, Ellen Levine's research with the scientists working with the baby otters lends this heartfelt tale authenticity, and Jon Van Zyle's signature style captures the cute factor of these adorable babies, making this book a must have for animal lovers and science fans alike.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Science, Juvenile, Childrens

40 pages, Library Binding

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

Ellen Levine's books have won many awards and honors, including the Jane Addams Peace Award. Although she enjoys writing both fiction and nonfiction, most of Ellen's books for young readers have been nonfiction. "Writing nonfiction lets me in behind the scenes of the story. I enjoy learning new things and meeting new people, even if they lived 200 years ago."

Ellen Levine was born in New York City. She received her B.A. degree in Politics from Brandeis University, graduating Magna cum laude. She has a Master's degree in political science from the University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law. She has worked in film and television, taught adults and immigrant teenagers in special education and ESL programs, and served a law clerkship with Chief Judge Joseph Lord, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A former staff attorney with a public interest law group, Levine now devotes her time to writing, lecturing, and teaching. She is on the faculty of Vermont College's MFA program in writing for Children and Young Adults.

Ellen Levine divides her time between New York City and Salem, New York.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auditioned for Mermaid Story Time, did not make it into the read pile but I thought the story was super-cute and a great way to introduce kids to conservation and rescue work.

[Sofia Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The picture book Seababy, A Little Otter Returns Home by Ellen Levine, tells the story of a baby otter who lives in the ocean with his mother. His mother took care of him by feeding him, playing with him, and cleaning him. One night his mother wrapped the baby otter in seaweed so he could sleep. Although, that night there was a huge storm, which separated the mother and baby from each other. The baby otter washed up to the shore, and he called for him mom but couldn't hear her call back. He even sniffed for her scent but couldn't smell her. The baby otter was then picked up by a person, who took him back to a safe refuge. The baby described this place as "a place of strange smells". The humans fed him milk which reminded of his mother feeding him. They then placed him in an ocean like pool, where he could swim and play. This place reminded him of the ocean. The baby otter was taken care of by the humans, they would rub his belly and scratch his cheeks and this also reminded him of his mom. One day the baby otter was taken to a bigger pool, where he met his new mother. She taught him how to dive and hunt for food, and then how to eat it. The new otter mom took care of the baby otter and everyday they dived together looking for clamshells, and they would crack them together and eat then them. Soon the otter was able to dive, search for food, and then eat it, all on his own. One day he was then taken back to the big ocean and he remembered the smell. He dove in the ocean and hunted for food just like he was taught back at the refuge. He met other otters and became friends with them, and stayed with them. The grown otter was now home in the ocean.

In this picture book, the plot is told in chronological order from beginning, to middle, then to the end. Although, this book is a circle story. It repeats itself by the otter being born in the ocean, taken away from the ocean, and then returning back to the ocean when he's an adult. It also had a lot of repetition within the text of the story by the otter consistently being reminded of his mother, and his home in the ocean. This could be used as a symbol of foreshadowing that the baby otter is once again going to return back to the ocean. The illustrations in this book were painted extremely creative and colorful. I believe that these illustrations are even masterpiece quality and pair very well with the text. Even though the text was small and simple, the illustrations took up the entire page and enhanced the storyline very much. Even though the setting of the story takes place in water, the majority of the color used is different shades of blue. I believe this symbolizes throughout the story the otter's sense of detachment from his home and his mother, but also symbolizes his calmness in the water. I think the different shades of blue displays the different moods of the otter. For example when the otter is playing and splashing in the water, the water is a bright blue. Although, when the baby otter is wiped away from his mother the illustrator paints the ocean a dark brown which can symbolize the sadness the otter feels when he's lost. Overall, this picture book was done amazing and the illustrations were phenomenal. I highly recommend parents and teachers to read this story to children and show them all of the picture carefully.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated story broke my heart as a mama. A little otter is separated from his mama (heart breaks), and rescued by an aquarium where they nurse him and introduce him to a new mama how care for him (heart breaks a little again), and then separated from that mama (so much heart breaking) and returned to the wild and a group of sea otters but not his mama (ahhh!). It should be noted, however that my kids didn't catch on to any of this except for the first sadness when he is separated from his original mom. It was a good story for talking about places that rescue animals and probably more realistic than what my mama heart wishes could have happened.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple text tells the story of a baby otter who becomes stranded on the beach when mom gets drifted away by a storm; humans come and rescue the baby otter and take him back to the aquarium where they nurse him and give him a surrogate mother to teach him the ways of otter life. He is then released back into the ocean, where he is automatically accepted into a family of otters. Based on true stories of the Monterey Bay Aquarium where they consistently rescue otters, “train” them, and set them free into their natural habitat.

[MaryJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute read aloud. The book is greatly enhanced by the artwork of Jon Van Zyle, which is the main reason I gave it four stars. The adult reading this aloud to students has to do some discussion about animal rescue. I did not think that the text makes clear why the baby sea otter was taken to a sea mammal rescue facility. Not just anyone can pick up sea mammals. It is illegal under Marine Mammal Protection laws to disturb animals in the wild. There are some explanatory notes in the back of the book which explains some of these issues.

[Slytano · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no use for this book. To whom can this book be recommended? A baby otter becomes orphaned and does not grieve at all for his mother. Some scientists rescue him and give him a new mother, and then they take him from the new mother and put him back in the sea.

If I was a kid, I would be terrified that I was just going to be taken away from my mom all the time.

The art is oil and it is really good.

[Jayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

ages 3 and up

This book tells the story of a little otter that is separated from his mother and taken to an aquarium where he is matched with a foster otter mom and learns how to take care of himself. When he is big enough he is released back into the ocean and he makes new friends.

This would be good to use for a story time about sea animals or baby animals. It has some great lessons about how animals are cared for when they lose their moms.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby sea otter is separated from his mother in a storm, then rescued by humans and placed in a rehabilitation center where an adoptive mom teaches the baby the skills needed to feed himself. Ending with his ocean release, he is last seen tethered in seaweed and fast asleep among a group of other otters. A good balance between naturalism and anthropomorphism.

[Kristen Sewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story really conveys that all babies need care and attention. Even though the otter was not an animal, the humans still rescued and took care of it until it was ready to be on its' own in the wild. All things should be set free and children will learn that by reading this. The illustrations were pretty to look at this book as well.

[Lauren Soich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess this book was alright. It was not my favorite and I did not love it because I don't understand what it was trying to teach young kids. It shows an otter becoming an orphan and not caring about losing his mother and everything he knew. I know if it meant to be portraying what happens in ocean life, but it seems a little bit too morbid for kids that young to read it.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby sea otter is separated from it's mother and rescued by aquarium workers. The baby otter is then matched with a surrogate mother and taught everything he needs to know. Eventually the otter pup is released back into the wild.

A great introduction into marine wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

[Patrick Antenucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good illustration work, the story is of an orphaned otter adopted by humans and a new mother otter and then, when ready, released back into the wild. Told through the otter's perspective of things is a nice touch.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite animal! Is a smart way to take fav animal drawing from first day to create a picture book. Helpful author's note and bibliography for non-fiction-ish books. Metaphor for what makes a family, separation from family, and healing.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awww! Sweet, gentle story of a little otter's rescue, rehabilitation, and eventual release. Teaches readers about otters and also the things wildlife rehabilitators are doing to protect and help them.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

A little otter's big journey, from rescue to release.

-- Monty K.

[Mouse Denehy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is very cute and it's great for showing how humans can assist animals in the wild. I like how the art style is very traditional and looks hand done with color pencil.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

sad book. did not like it as a kids book!!!

[Taylor Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts off very heartwarming readers see a mom and little sea otter embracing each other in a blanket of seaweed. The mom did everything for the little otter until one day when a strong storm brought waves that separated them. The little otter cried out for his mom and searched for her scent, but she was nowhere to be found. He was all alone, washed up on the sand, until he was picked up and brought to a strange place where he was fed and given a place to swim. One day, he was brought to a much bigger pool to meet his new mom, she fed him and taught him to dive for food on his own. They stayed together until the little otter became old enough to return to his real home. He saw other otters and swam to them; they smelled each other. He was happy with his new friends back in the sea where he belonged.

Inside a classroom this book could be used to introduce students to animal rescue centers and their importance to many animals and the overall environment. This book could also be used in a lesson about marine life it would make a great read aloud.

The illustrations are created with acrylic on 300-pound watercolor paper. When reading through the book, I immediately noticed that the illustrator chose to cover each page completely; there is no blank space. Instead, the background helps to continue to set the scene of the illustrations. For instance, when the human scratches the little otter, the background is yellow to indicate they are in the same room as before, where he was first taken to. Readers can make this connection since both of these scenes have yellow backgrounds. If they were white instead, it would not have the same effect.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is okay. It does teach about otters, however, I would think it would be alarming for some kiddos to understand. In particular...the baby sea otter is separated from its mother and never sees her again. Then he is matched with a surrogate mother and is taught everything he needs to know only to be separated once again when he is released back into the wild.
I did not like it as a children's book.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet book about an otter that gets stranded from its family, and another otter raises him and teaches him how to get food. I don't know if I'm just being paranoid, but I would be nervous about giving this book to kids that are too little; it could be shocking (the idea of getting separated from a parent and never seeing them again). Older kids though I think would understand.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad story at first of a lost otter baby, with a happy-ish ending.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little book about what science has learned about raising sea otters and releasing them back into the wild.