Seagull by Danny Snell
Working Title Press, 2015. ISBN 9781921504815
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Environment, Marine animals, Rubbish,
Pollution. When Seagull's legs become entwined in an old discarded
fishing line on the shore, she can no longer do the things she
loves: soaring in the blue sky above and floating in the strong
winds, hovering over the beach. Children will be dismayed at her
plight and hope, as I did, that she finds some relief from her
predicament as they turn the pages.
She attempts to disentangle herself, but finds it is stuck fast. As
she moves over the sand the line catches on other pieces of rubbish
left on the beach and her burden increases. She asks other animals
along the shore for help, and each; a mullet, crab and pelican only
succeed in loosening the attachment. Worn out she settles down into
the sand to rest and a boy comes along to help her.
This is a wonderful allegory for our misuse of our environment and
the story will intrigue readers making them both aware of the
dangers lurking on the beach for animals and encourage them to take
some responsibility for the rubbish left around. Involvement in the
plight of Seagull is instantaneous as the gentle words pull the
readers into her story, the illustrations reflecting her position.
Snell gives us a seagull with character, her eye peering out at the
reader on the cover, then looking more and more worried as the story
proceeds. The background of the small sand dunes, dotted with
tussocks contrasts vividly with the scattering of rubbish left
behind by human activity, and children will love noting the
different things Snell includes. I love the endpapers with their
small clutter of rubbish, the tyre covered in bird poo, the
depiction of the seagull as she tries to extricate the burden on her
legs.
This is a wonderful picture book, full of meaning, impelling lots of
discussion between children, in classrooms and at home, encouraging
a closer look at the rubbish thrown away by our society and the
impact it has on the animals we see every day.
Fran Knight