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Selkie

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Selkie
By Josephine Birch
Starfish Bay Children's Books, 2019. Picture Book.

Soft colors and gentle illustrations grace the pages of this wordless picture book about a fisherman who falls overboard and explores the underwater world with a friendly seal. Their journey through the depths of the ocean is magical, giving the young man a new view of the world, and a new friend. Although he doesn't stay with the seal, it can be assumed that he is forever changed by his exploration of a world previously unfamiliar.

Birch's story without words is calming, both because of the sweet story, and because of the limited ocean-themed color palette. Readers won't know exactly what happened under the water, because of the lack of text, but the emotions of the story shine through in the simplicity of the illustrations.
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