Andre

by Lew Dietz

Relates the experiences of the Goodridge family of Maine in raising, training, and establishing a relationship with a harbor seal from puppyhood to adulthood.

Genres: Nonfiction

83 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a kid because I lived near andre in the summer & got visit him often. I always awaited his return from Boston. The day I learned that he died was like the day Mr. Hooper died on Sesame Street.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has the same cover as this version, but I can't be bothered to (get someone to) add the cover to this listing. Goodreads almost never notifies me when someone responds to a discussion thread, so I just forget.

Anyway, this is a curious book since
- it's formatted like a picture-focused young reader book but is, content-wise, more of a chapter book
- it's Toni Goodridge's story (and starts with "My name is Toni") but is written by Lew Dietz, because... she asked him to write it?, so that feels a little weird despite being consensual

It's not a bad book, to be certain, and unlike other nonfiction "pet" books that follow the life of a specific pet, this one doesn't follow Andre to the VERY end of his life (though, there were two other seals before him, so don't expect NO death in this book).

The art is a bit amateurish—like the artist knew how to draw seals perfectly but humans are a bit tough—but it serves its function well enough that I kind of like it. The layout is very well done so the art accentuates, rather than obscures, the text.

A lovely read for fans of the real-life seal or the movie I didn't know about before just now.

[Breanne Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since it was one of my favorite childhood books, I was excited when my kids chose it for me to read to them. I grew up in Maine and I remember the stories about Andre. I enjoyed it now as much as I did growing up.