Maggie de Vries

This story evokes both happy and sad emotions. Ally is a young girl who is not able to live with her mother so she lives with her gram and great-aunt. In the summer, she travels to her aunt and uncle's where she is able to visit with her mother. We do not know why she does not live with her mother which actually opens this book up to discussion. When Ally and her mom get together they do not connect well, until they find out that they both love to swim. The day they spend on the boat and swimming gives them wonderful memories of swimming with the seals. This is a good book to use with students to discuss families that are different, as well as the help children share feelings if they do not live with one of their parents for whatever reason. The illustrations in this book were gorgeous with beautiful colours and vivid, realistic pictures. I loved the muted underwater scenes. A great book for family, school and public libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.… (mehr)

Swimming With Seals by Maggie de Vries and Janice Kun, published by Orca Book Publishers is a gorgeously illustrated story about family and the ocean. The most remarkable thing about this story is the illustrations. Janice Kun creates a collage style illustration using photographic images, watercolour and pencil. The effect is a dreamy, liquid and vibrant book that just calls to you from the shelf saying, "Pick me up!". When you do you will not be disappointed as along with the incredible illustrations is an exquisite story about a girl named Ally who travels to the city every summer to spend time with her aunt and uncle. Her mom also lives in the city, Ally lives with her Gram and great-aunt for most of the year. Throughout the story, Ally asks many questions about her mom and her aunt answers those questions with kindness. We are never told why Ally lives with her Gram and I love that the author leaves that aspect open. This book can speak to anyone who doesn't live with their mom for any number of reasons. Genetically, there are things about our personalities that we will share with our biological parents, in this case Ally and her mom both swim like seals. It is through swimming and the ocean that Ally feels most connected to her Mom. It's those traits that connect us with our biological parents no matter where they happen to live.… (mehr)