The Sea House

The Sea House tells the story of young Coral, a nine-year-old grieving the loss of her parents in an accident. Whilst crying herself to sleep, Coral realises her house is full of water and magical sea creatures. She meets exotic creatures as well as some scary ones, who have a different motive. The majority of the creatures want to cheer Coral up, however, these terrifying ones want her to close her heart and accept the grief. Coral must learn to listen to her heart and accept the lessons her parents taught her to overcome this. This is a beautiful story; rich with vivid vocabulary and emotions. An unusual portrayal of grief in children, this is a super story to explore feelings of loss, sadness and joy. Short snappy chapters make is a perfect read aloud book or an excellent first chapter book for an early reader. The text is brilliantly given life through Rebecca Harry's stunning illustrations and creative page layouts. The fish fact section at the end also adds interesting tidbits of information for curious minds. A joyous read with a hint of magic. This will open discussions about loss, love and marine life and will be enjoyed by adults and children alike. 124 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Bryony Davies, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+