A Seal Called Andre

by Harry Goodridge, Lew Dietz

This is the true story of the unique friendship between Harry Goodridge and Andre, the harbor seal who was as comfortable in Goodridge’s home as he was in Penobscot Bay. Andre became Rockport, Maine’s honorary harbor master and was ranked “second only to Andrew Wyeth as the state’s most acclaimed summer resident.” Year after year, Andre swam south in the winter, only to return again to Harry the next spring.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Science, School, Audiobook, Media Tie In

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Jessaka]

I read this true story a few years ago, but in case anyone on here loves animal stories this is a good one. Such a heartwarming story about a seal who swam up and down the coast of Maine and was friends with the author. He loved performing tricks for people, but as all animal stories go, they always add the ending.

I had also given this book to the library book sale, but as time went on I saw that no one was buying it, and I didn't want it just going to the trash so I took it back. I had a feeing that people just think that seals have no personality and so why read the book. Oh, but they do have a personality.

[Ashleigh Motbey]

The movie, Andre, was a favourite growing up. I watched it so many times - back in the days when you couldn't stream things, I was constantly waiting for it to come onto my TV so I could watch it again. I absolutely loved it.

But it wasn't until 2020 that I discovered it was a) based off a true story and b) there was a book about it. And I am now thrilled that I have read the true story of Andre.

It melted my heart. Andre was such a sweetheart and so friendly and chilled and I loved it. He was precious and I admittedly teared up in the afterword where they talked about his death (despite knowing he had since died).

The story of Andre took me through the happy life of the little seal who essentially thought he was a person. He was an abandoned seal pup, rescued and then raised by the Goodridge family in Rockport, Maine, in the 60's. He was immediately friendly and adapted to his life with people - which, turned out to be exactly where he liked to be.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of his life. I did give it 4 stars, though, because of the nature of animal captivity mentioned in this. This book was written in 1975 and the rules about keeping wild creatures were vastly different to what they are now; also the way we, as humans, view animals. But despite caring for Andre, the author, Harry, seemed to be on a mission to prove that he could keep a seal (as well as other animals) as pets and would take them from the wild. I gues my millenial mind couldn't adjust to that, despite it being written well before my time!

Other than that, though, I loved it.

[Camille Murphy]

Three belly pats for Andre!! This book was cute. There were definitely some controversial practices on the animals, but it was the 60s so I won’t give it too much thought. I wish I would have read this before passing by Penobscot Bay, though. I love seals, and this was quite a special one!!

[Alex Durkin]

“I couldn’t quite put down the curious feeling that a harbor seal had something to tell me.” Couldn’t have said it better myself

[Matthew Mainster]

A very cute true story about a seal that became a "honorary harbor master" of Rockport, Maine for 20 years up until his death in 1986. It served as the inspiration for 1993 family film "Andre". A great book (quick read!) for any animal lover. Andre had tons of personality and was loved by all his neighbors. Often they'd come out to find him lounging on their boats, and whenever he traveled to other harbors, people would call up Harry, his owner, to let him know Andre was safe and sound frolicking (and often showing off) for the residents. Since I'm moving to Rockport, ME, I loved reading about a beautiful spot in the town's history!

[Christine Mathieu]

I discovered this book among the books in a beach cottage at Popham Beach in Maine which we rented for a week. Started reading the first chapter and was hooked.

At first I was a bit afraid that this book could have a tragic ending like "Ring of Bright Water" by Gavin Maxwell, but this turned out to be a happy autobiography with lots of funny moments which starts in 1960 when Harry Goodridge of Rockport, Maine, found an abandoned seal baby and they developed a wonderful relationship.
The book describes the next 15 years with Andre, the seal.

[Angie Garavet]

Loved this movie! Found quite a few typos in this book. Don't love that he actually went out and captured days old harbor seals to see if he could raise them and then they died on him. However, I enjoyed the stories of Andre. Now I need to go visit Maine!

[Courtney]

next year my older sister and i are taking a trip to Maine so a coworker gave me her copy to read since this story takes place there. the movie used to be one of my favorites growing up so i was somewhat familiar with the story already, but it's definitely been a while since i've seen it so this was almost like reading a completely new story. and it's a very nice story. informative, too; i know a lot more about harbor seals now than i did before, that's for sure! it's interesting to think that one of them would get so attached to a human, but i'm sure it just takes a special kind of human to let that sort of thing happen.

[Laurie Klooster]

Had to put this one out there. Written by my uncle Lew and I had the honor of meeting Andre several times. Fun story and made into a Disney movie.

[Remus Drake]

Chap. 1: arrival of the seal called Andre only a pup at the time.
Chap. 2: Harry good ridge the boy who had special connections to animals. A natural hunter. Only hunting what he could personally eat himself. No more than that. Young Henry. Could remove this chapter and it would still flow well.
Chap.3: older Harry with wife and children. Andre came when he's children were seven to 19. Chapter starts out talking about his children. The people that he lived around and all the jokes and animals his family had at some point.
Chap. 4: Waterfront and hunting for sharks (due to belief that sharks are man-eaters when in fact they are not) and other ocean surveillance. The beginning of a desire to be friend a seal. How he came to get other seals for observation. Information on water mammals in Maine. History about seals, protection acts to save the seals and other mammals. This chapter also goes in depth of what happened to the other two seals Henry had to appease his addiction to tame and own a seal.
Chap. 5: Andre as a small seal pup and the struggles that Harry faced. Andre's growth and teenage years. Andre's first season without the Good ridge family.
Chap. 6: Andre's first adventure and accidentally being called a woman. Andre coming home with some wounds that seemed to be an infection. Black and white pictures are also located in this chapter. Andre heals and the beginning of Andre's training regime.
Chap.7: Andre becomes more of a celebrity. Other seals have been tamed in the past not just from the Good ridge family. Andre's shows and playful moments.
Chap.8: Andre's winter boarding. The change in Andre that could only be considered as emotions affected by the weather. Andre's house escape! And his safe return.
Chap.9:Elray (a boy) becomes a part of Andre's "boat" life.
Chap.10: Trudy (a female seal bought to mate with Andre) became more of a younger sister to Andre. This chapter also discusses mating and pregnancy in seals.
Chap.11: This chapter talks about seal senses and the studying that Good ridge observed which can put some information on scientific files. Andre was becoming more dependent.
Chap.12: Luigi is the title of the chapter. The chapter starts with a call and searching for bird's nest. Then a scientist lab who wants Good ridge to train another seal for them. Six training qualifications that need to be achieved is also discussed. Luigi was the name of the new seal pup that was to be trained.
Chap.13: Jesse is the title. This chapter talks about military training of a seal, Andre, Luigi, and another seal pup named Jesse. The military did not continue with the research.
Chap.14 to chap. 17: These chapters talked about worry of man and his instincts for attacking wildlife even when friendly. The Boston aquarium that hosted Andre over the winter. Popularity of Andre at its peak not just in Boston. Andre's return home with BUBBLEGUM on him!
Chap.18: A following year, worried about Andre but knowing that Andre will be okay. Federal people came and despite knowing the situation took years to address the issue that Harry might have been breaking a law due to recapture standards. Thankfully Andre was backed up by Rockport's community as well as the Feds allowing Harry to keep Andre.
Chap.19: 1975, Andre gets released into the ocean from his winter home the Boston aquarium. Returns home but needs a vet to look at him from getting hooked on something called a jig. I believe that is a type of net or something man-made. There are metal prongs involved that got stuck in Andre's lip.

My version of the book was made in 1975. There was a newspaper clipping from October 20 1976 which reads as follows: Andre to Take First Plane Trip
Rockport, Maine- Fabs of Andre the trained seal have made it possible for him to take his first plane trip. Trainer Harry Goodridge of Rockport Monday said the 15 year old pet seal would fly in a stripped down charter plane to his winter habitat, the New England Aquarium in Boston. In past years Andre has been taken by van, but Goodridge said the flight would cut traveling time from four hours to about 50 minutes. Goodridge said visitors who watched Andre perform here during the summer took up a collection to buy Andre a new cage. Funds were put into a separate bank account, and once the cage was purchased there was enough to pay the $270 fare. Goodridge said Andre is scheduled to leave on Nov. 16 from Knox County Regional Airport at Owls Head for Logan International Airport. Andre, whom Goodridge raised from a pup for the past several years has wintered at the Boston aquarium where he is known for a wide ranging repertoire of tricks. Each spring he has been driven to Marblehead and released into the ocean to find his way back to Rockport where he spends his summer with Goodridge.


Overall, this book isn't just about Andre or Harry Goodridge but the community of Rockport. Of the community family of Rockport.

It seems like 12 size font, double spaced, but not one inch margins. I decided to try to do something else with this nonfiction review of the book. It's more of a breakdown than a true review.

[Marbs]

I thought people who made dnf lists were ridiculous for not at least finishing books and rating them one star if they disliked them so much. Today, I became ridiculous when A Seal Called Andre pushed me to create a dnf list of my own.

In the very first chapter, Goodridge finds a seal pup with no mother in the immediate vicinity. Harry scoops up the seal, Andre, and takes him home. Into his house. To be a pet. (first red flag) My instinct was to put down the book immediately and start the dnf review. Instead I calmed down and told myself, "Don't be hasty, and stop judging things right away. Give it a chance."

By chapter 4, I knew I had to stop. My goal is to read books that spark happiness, curiosity, or both. Chapter 4 was causing nothing but anger and strife. -___- Goodridge recalls harpooning great white sharks, calling them "mindless machines of destruction" of his own personal prejudice. (second red flag) The next consecutive paragraph (and final red flag) is as follows:

I had another and possibly no more admirable reason for harpooning great white sharks: I hoped to prove that certain marine biologists were in error. I expect that most of us amateur naturalists delight in finding the scientific establishment wrong. All too often those lab-bound fellows concern themselves with analytical and statistical data and ignore the raw material of life. Relying on their brains, they sometimes forget to use their eyes.

My guy was forreal killing sharks just because he hated them and wanted to prove a point.

Am I not being understanding enough of the time period or locale? Maybe. But in a different life arc, I was studying to make a career out of marine biology, and this book made my skin crawl too much to even reach the halfway point.

Please don't take home random wild animals for your own emotional gratification, y'all.

[Mary Bugbee]

I found this story delightful, and the book well written.

As a child, the movie Andre was a favorite — I recently rewatched it and noticed at the end that it was “based on a true story.” I started researching online and became captivated by the very true story of Harry Goodridge and his two and half decade friendship with Andre.

I was able to get my hands on a copy from Thriftbooks and started reading it the day it was delivered. There were moments in the book that gave me pause - e.g. the capturing of baby seals - yet this story is from a different time. Regardless of how Harry came to bring Andre home, the relationship the two developed and the respect with which Harry treated Andre throughout his lifespan were both heartwarming and fascinating. Harry Goodridge is a man who didn’t suffer the usual human conceits when it came to observing and interacting with animals. He respected Andre’s autonomy and character, and felt a deep responsibility toward him - not as Andre’s owner, but as Andre’s friend.

This story has many lessons for us humans on how much we don’t know about other animals and their inner lives. And yet despite our differences, we can develop beautiful and long lasting interspecies friendships.

[Heather Marie]

I found this book in my Airbnb in Midcoast Maine and it brought back warm memories. I loved the film “Andre” as a child and was delighted to learn that Andre spent most of his life in nearby Rockport. After visiting the statue erected in his honor, I decided to read this book to learn more about my favorite seal.

It was clear early on where the film took artistic liberties to make the movie a bit more family-friendly; I didn’t love the long sections about Harry nabbing baby animals in order to train them. I had to skip a section in the second chapter about his hunting. But once Andre appeared, I was in it.

The prose style is both a little flowery and a little simple, but even though it was co-written, I felt I could understand Harry well. For me it’s more of a 3.5 star book, but for Andre, I give it four.

[Chris]

This is a fun memoir of both a harbormaster in Midcoast Maine, and the infamous seal, Andre, who befriended him after his mother presumably left him just two days after birth. The book is an easy read, and offers a coherent look into the life of a wild animal caretaker. This book is especially suitable for those who have any sentimental ties to the Midcoast. In fact, it was at the Rockport Harbor that I became interested in the story of Andre, which is abridged at the foot of his commemorative statue.

[Mary Ann]

Recently when I couldn't sleep, I looked for a happy book and came across Andre - written in 1974. I bought it decades ago during a conference in Rockport, ME. This is where Andre, the harbor seal, became famous and was the Honorary Harbormaster. Andre's story was a perfect choice for falling asleep with a smile. He lived to be 25, can be Googled and is on wikipedia. Andre and his best friend Harry, who brought a 2-day old pup home to raise, are the subject of at least three books and one film.

[Haley Kilgour]

A cute an unique story for sure.

The first several chapters I could’ve done without as they didn’t pertain to Andre. There were also several chapters that didn’t focus on Andre either but on other seals.

I also think this book has good potential to teach new marine mammal trainers just a little. And to see some of what they can do.

[Ruby]

A lovely story of Andre the seal and Harry the human! I love an unconventional friendship and more so I enjoyed learning about some history of marine life/policy existing or frankly NOT existing in Maine’s past. I think everyone should seek a friend others would pass up on. Shoutout Dove and Hudson’s one dollar book section!

[Jessica Baumgartner]

This is a much more realistic dive into the world of Harry Goodridge and his relationship with Andre the seal. While it's def not the fairy tale that the 90s movie played up, it is a fun scientific study and commentary on the intelligence of wild animals.

[Conor Daley]

It was a nice story, the kind of fun New England stories I grew up with.

I wish there were more stories like this now and less about our own self serving hubris.

Annnnd this review just made me sound like an 80 year old man.

[Gabriella Craft]

Very endearing. And now I know quite a lot about seals, specifically about harbor seals called Andre;)

[Elise Noelle]

Absolutely fantastic book! I love harbour seals, and this just highlights what an incredible, wonderful, intelligent creature they are. 💜

[Spudpuppy]

This book is very.... of it's time, but Andre is so cute and I loved the pictures

[Faith Taylor]

I LOVE YOU ANDRE!!!!! I LOVE YOU HARRY!!!

[Karen D.]

A Seal called Andre is a wonderful, heartwarming tale of a beloved harbor seal and his human interactions. I don’t usually cry reading books but I did at the end of this one.

[Stacey Lunsford]

I picked this up on vacation in Maine. The author, Harry Goodridge, grew up in the early part of the 20th century and spent most of his free time in the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He became a student of natural history and raised many small creatures as temporary pets in order to learn more about them. His descriptions of his background and how he came to capture a baby harbor seal to learn more about them are clear and direct and a window into a time that is gone forever. Andre, as he named the baby seal, proved to be highly intelligent and easy to train, although the science of the time did not think this was possible and actually knew very little about harbor seals. Harry communicated with vets, scientists, researchers, aquariums, and even the federal government about the abilities of harbor seals as he learned through his own observations over the years. Even though he did not consider himself a "professional" trainer, the methods he talks about - creating an environment in which the animal does what it would do naturally but does it on command based on specific cues - was very different than, as he points out, teaching a bear to ride a bicycle or a poodle to walk on its hind legs and drink tea. All of this took place years before the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 which made it illegal to capture marine mammals for pets. It is a short but informative read with photos. Anyone interested in natural history will find this story fascinating and unsentimental.

[Katrina]

I read this book in the fourth grade. As a child "Andre" the book and movie, were very important to me!

Whole different story now that I'm an assistant Wildlife Rehabber.

It does seem, the way the book reads, that Andre was just special. And a rare case. I'd like to find more information about him.

The only thing I found difficult was that although I've lived in Maine my whole life, I don't live on the coast, and there are a few phrases and words he uses that I had to look up.

[Netta]

Aww! Hes so cute! I love this true tale of the famous seal called Andre told from Harry's point of view. I found this an interesting read. I knew the basic story of Andre, but this book offered more. It taught me a lot about harbor seals and other animals. It was also the story of Harry Goodridge the man.

[Maryann Geiser]

The story of Harry Goodridge, his love of animals and how he adopted and trained a harbor seal he named Andre. An interesting story of the intelligence of animals and our ignorance of that intelligence. I kept thinking, though, that this could not happen today.

[Haley Wilkie]

A cute, but sad ending. Loved the story. I have my Grammy Higgins hardcover book in my home on a book shelf, and i brought with me one year to camp and read it. I recommend this book to anyone who loves animals

[Kimberly]

The movie was so sweet it made me want to read the book. The book is much more scientific without the movie drama but is still a good read. It was fascinating to see how a seal became such a big part of a family's life.