My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Enjoyed reading this book as an adult and can imagine its popularity as a read-aloud bedtime story. A fascinating but sad true story recounted to the author when she was a little girl inspired her, many years later, to create a more cheerful version of the same story. She had wished it to have a happier ending, so she invented one. A delightful storybook for all those who love and empathise with animals and enjoy storytelling. There was a time when animals such as lions and seals were kept as pets. Today we know that usually, the best chance of survival for seal pups is to stay in the wild. The facts behind this story confirm that. Personally, I would have liked the illustrations more in colour.