A Seal Pup Called Pearl

Helen Peters's A Seal Pup Called Pearl is an animal rescue story for 7 year olds that starts with the most surprising thing Jasmine has ever seen on her farm.

What happens

On the first morning of the summer holidays, Jasmine and her best friend Tom are walking the dog by the river. And there on the opposite bank is a seal. A real seal! With a tiny newborn pup beside her.

Then two kayakers paddle up to take selfies with the pup. The mother slips into the water and doesn't come back.

Jasmine is FURIOUS (she calls them idiots, and honestly you'll probably be on her side). The poor pup is left crying for its mum on the muddy bank.

The seal hospital is full. So Jasmine, who has already read up on everything from seal milk to weaning weights, offers to raise the pup at home. Pearl moves into the old dog kennel with a toy dolphin to cuddle and a pond Dad sinks into the orchard.

Jasmine is a brilliant heroine. She's determined and clever and she doesn't take no for an answer, even from stern Elspeth at the rescue charity (who only ever talks to the grown-ups). She also bends the rules a bit. There's an email sent from Mum's computer that might be worth a chat afterwards!

It's full of lovely real details too. Mixing up sardine milkshake in the blender, weighing a wriggly pup on the bathroom scales, and Dad's terrible seal jokes ("seal of approval" gets a groan). Tom keeps dropping in facts, like how every harbour seal has its own pattern of spots.

Will Pearl be strong enough to go back to the sea? You'll be rooting for her the whole way.

What to read next

If your reader loves an animal they can worry about and cheer on, this is a great pick. And for more of Jasmine and Tom, go back to A Piglet Called Truffle, the first book in the series, where Jasmine spots something wriggling under the straw in a neighbour's pigsty.