Retired shopkeeper Mr. Cleghorn, at something of a loss since selling his business, goes to visit his cousin William and his family at the seashore in this simple but engaging chapter-book from celebrated British children's author Judith Kerr. While on holiday, Mr. Cleghorn adopts an abandoned seal pup he had been observing, in order to spare its life, but finds that his plan to donate the orphaned wildling to a local zoo have hit a snag. Now he finds himself caring for Charlie, as he names the seal, in a small apartment where animals are forbidden. Fortunately for him, his neighbor, Miss Millicent Craig, is both sympathetic and knowledgeable about animals, and together they eventually find the best solution, for both Charlie and themselves...

Published in 2015, Mister Cleghorn's Seal was one of Kerr's last books (sadly, she died in 2019), and is based, according to the author's brief afterword, upon a story from her own father's youth. Apparently Father Kerr had once rescued a seal himself, and had attempted to care for it, with less than happy results. Judith Kerr grew up in a house which contained the stuffed remains of that unfortunate creature, and this story represents, as she herself acknowledges, an attempt to create a happier ending for this seal. It has a historical setting, which makes the premise more amenable, I think - if set today, we would hope and expect that a rescued seal would be taken to a wildlife organization that could rehabilitate it and rerelease it into the world - and an engaging hero. I enjoyed following along as Charlie leads Mister Cleghorn into both trouble, and eventually, toward happiness, and really loved the ending of the tale. The accompanying artwork has all of that vintage Kerr charm that one would expect, and adds to the reading pleasure. Recommended to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy animal stories, as well as to fellow Kerr fans. ( )

Mister Cleghorn sees an orphan seal on his vacation and brings the seal baby home with him. An if-only story Kerr created based on her father’s real life experience with a seal. ( )