The Magic Sea Shell

by Margaret J. Baker, Susan Elson (Illustrator)

A fanciful story about three English children who find a whelk shell that serves as a communication device for talking to a mermaid. The component parts of the action are fairly hackneyed: a father missing at sea, a critical aunt, a brave try by mother at running a boarding house, a wish for each child granted by the mermaid. The last wish is for the return of father...
"Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books", The University of Chicago, Volume XIII July-August, 1960 Number 11

122 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Margaret Joyce Blake's Publications:
The Fighting Cocks, 1949;
Nonsense Said the Tortoise (in U.S. as Homer the Tortoise), 1949;
Four Farthings and a Thimble, 1950;
A Castle and Sixpence, 1951;
Benbow and the Angels, 1952;
The Family That Grew and Grew, 1952;
Treasure Trove, 1952;
Homer Sees the Queen, 1953;
The Young Magicians, 1954;
Lions in the Potting Shed (in U.S. as Lions in the Woodshed), 1954;
The Wonderful Wellington Boots, 1955;
Anna Sewell and Black Beauty, 1956;
Acorns and Aerials, 1956;
Bright High Flyer, 1957;
Tip and Run, 1958;
Homer Goes to Stratford, 1958;
The Magic Seashell, 1959;
The Birds of Thimblepins, 1960;
Homer in Orbit, 1961;
Into the Castle. 1962;
The Cats of Honeytown, 1962;
Away Went Galloper, 1962;
Castaway Christmas, 1963;
Cut Off from Crumpets, 1964;
The Shoe Shop Bears, 1964;
Homer Goes West, 1965;
Hannibal and the Bears, 1965;
Bears Back in Business, 1967;
Porterhouse Major, 1967;
Hi-Jinks Joins the Bears, 1970;
Snails' Place, 1970;
The Last Straw, 1971;
Boots and the Ginger Bears, 1972;
The Sand Bird, 1973;
Prickets Way, 1973;
Lock Stock and Barrel, 1974;
Home from the Hill, 1968;
Sand in Our Shoes, 1976

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

would have given this story of 3 children finding magic intruding into the everyday world four stars if I'd read it at 9 or so, and so that's what I went with as a grown-up. Even as a child, though, having devoured Edward Eager and E. Nesbit, I would have found it not quite up to their five star level. Doesn't have quite the same zing as those, but still a really pleasant read.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was young, and I loved it. Now I read it again, just to see what it was about and if I would still like it, and I do. It's not briliant, but a very nice story about a grumpy mermaid and children in after-ww2 England.