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. ( )

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. ( )

Ally is a young girl with a rather unusual situation. Rather than living with her ma, she lives with her Gram and great-aunt, spending summers with her aunt and uncle who live near her ma, and that's when she gets to see her. Ally doesn't really know her mother, and has all sorts of questions about her. During the visit they get to go swimming together, with seals. At the end, readers get to learn the meaning behind the story, and it brought tears!

This story is a good lesson for children regarding different family structures. We don't know why Ally doesn't live with her ma, but there are numerous reasons why she may not My own cousin lived with us for several years because her ma was not well enough to take care of her. My cubs and I enjoyed the story, though it felt lacking at times. The artwork is gorgeous!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )

Very strange book about a little girl who doesn't live with her mother. When she travels to the city by the sea to stay with her aunt and uncle, she does get to see her mother, and they have a wonderful day. The author's note explains the meaning of the story, and it is sad. Somehow, though, it just doesn't all come together. The illustrations, which appear to mix drawings with photographs, are quite good and help to enliven this bittersweet tale. ( )