Sofia inherits an old bear that has belonged to her family for generations. A sad incident separates the girl from her beloved toy.
The little girl visits the coast with her father, which turns into the most splendid day until the massive storm when the bear slips from the bag. Sofia’s father comforts her by buying other bears, but nothing can replace hers as “None of them had belonged to her mother.” Presumably, her mother might have passed away, as we see her only in photos, and she didn’t participate in the picnic at sea.
The Sea looks after the bear and tries to connect it with its owner, bringing it from shore to shore and beyond. Eventually, a little girl finds it and brings it home. What a surprise! Beautiful illustrations reveal scenes from the seaside and engage the reader with mixed media created by Tom Percival using images from Rijksmuseum.
The Sea Saw by Tom Percival is a story that engages children in deep feelings, mostly sadness and grief, making the text memorable for a long time. Some children will find identification in all the ‘tatty’ loved toys lost and found; for others, it might be helpful to go through feelings related to one parent household. The book is suitable for KS1 pupils reading aloud or independently, where children follow clear, easy-to-read font.
Further Information:
If you loved The Sea Saw, check out more information about its author and illustrator:
Videos from Tom Percival about how he created “The Sea Saw”
- The Idea. Part 1
- Plotting the Story. Part 2
- Rough Artwork. Part 3
- Rijksmuseum. Part 4
- Drawn and Not Drawn. Part 5
- Creating an Image. Part 6
- Designing the Cover. Part 7
The Stats:
- Title: The Sea Saw
- Author and Illustrator: Tom Percival
- ISBN: 978-1-4711-7243-4
- Publication Date: 2019
- Page Count: 32
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Recommended age: 6-8
- Categories/Topic: lost toys, the sea
Where to Find it:
- Buy on Amazon: The Sea Saw by Tom Percival
- Find on: Goodreads
