Seals Are Jerks!

July 3, 2023
Chapman (the Crab and Snail series) explores what it means to be a fan when the object of one’s adoration has a less than stellar character. Child Lorelei, portrayed with light brown skin and a missing front tooth, loves seals—their “big adorable eyes,” “goofy bark,” and most of all, how they’re clearly buddies with penguins. “In every seal photo she had ever seen, there was a penguin nearby.” But when Lorelei presents this information to her class, a new student—an actual penguin—refutes this claim outright: “No, seals are jerks.... Seals eat penguins.” A quick trip to Antarctica results in a shocking confirmation: after some hedging, a seal admits, “How could I be friends with something that delicious?” Unfussy digital cartooning, casually funny dialogue (“Busted!” proclaims one penguin as Lorelei questions the seal), and ripped-from-the-headlines relevance make this picture book humorous and thought-provoking, and the ending offers up sage honesty. When Lorelei, comprehending the reality of the food chain, asks “Is everyone a jerk?” the seal wisely responds, “We’re just wild animals and in nature, some things are just the way they re.” Antarctica facts conclude. Ages 4–8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

August 1, 2023
Lorelei especially loves seals because of their friendship with penguins...or so she believes. The tan-skinned child creates an album filled with photos showing seals' many great attributes and presents it with great enthusiasm at school. But she is shocked when a penguin in the class (don't ask) announces that seals eat penguins and therefore are jerks. Lorelei embarks on a fact-finding trip to prove that this loudmouthed penguin is completely wrong. Told in an interwoven mesh of brief narrative text and emotionally charged cartoon illustrations that include colorful pink, green, and orange speech bubbles, the book follows Lorelei to the local zoo and library and then on a plane to Antarctica, where she meets a group of penguins and a seal who tell her the truth. Her exaggerated facial expressions and body language dominate the pages as she becomes overwhelmed by disbelief, disappointment, hopelessness, and anger and responds with huge bursts of temper. But she is also tremendously resourceful and has some hilarious ideas about how to reconcile seals and penguins. (Think peanut butter and jelly.) Lorelei finally grasps that that animals cannot change their nature and finds a new perspective and new pages for her album. Observant readers will discover many twists and surprises and will commiserate with and cheer for Lorelei, the penguins, and, yes, even the seal. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Thoroughly delightful. (facts about Antarctica) (Picture book. 4-9)

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