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A review by mat_tobin
Mister Cleghorn’s Seal by Judith Kerr
4.0
One of those rare children's books in which the main protagonist is not a child. Kerr's book is as lovely as you would expect. Here, she has embellished a tale she was told by her own father and set it in a time of her own youth (if not a little later).
Mister Cleghorn, a retired shopkeeper, finds himself caring for a young seal pup. When he takes him home to his flat, a series of events lead him to make some grand, life-changing decisions. After 37 years, this sees her return to the illustrated novel. Her fading line drawings are lovely and typical of Kerr's style; the one of Mr Cleghorn and Miss Craig hugging is especially enchanting. Kerr's ending here is classic happy ever after but, as often is the way, the reality of death and loss is there, subtly spoken, in the background. A wonderful KS1 book.
Mister Cleghorn, a retired shopkeeper, finds himself caring for a young seal pup. When he takes him home to his flat, a series of events lead him to make some grand, life-changing decisions. After 37 years, this sees her return to the illustrated novel. Her fading line drawings are lovely and typical of Kerr's style; the one of Mr Cleghorn and Miss Craig hugging is especially enchanting. Kerr's ending here is classic happy ever after but, as often is the way, the reality of death and loss is there, subtly spoken, in the background. A wonderful KS1 book.