SAMMI THE SEAHORSE

Uniquely illustrated with blue wave borders similar to the bottom curves of sea horses, and with the fun-filled handwritten type style galley text, the pages of SAMMI THE SEAHORSE flow like crashing waves and cascading water over the beach sand. Each page turns, with a combination of underwater photos of sea horses and other creatures including an octopus, adorned with clip art hats, jewelry and fun imagery. Ideal for humanizing the characters for little children’s vast imaginations to absorb and enjoy such an adventure story.

Conveying the values of male and female mating for life, Sammi and Yammi have a family with little seahorses tagged with goofy names based on their personality traits. The theme of Shernock’s book instills the values of a wholesome functional family unit.

One day the daddy seahorse, Sammi, disappears! Where did he go?

With the help of the community and faith in goodness, Sammi comes back not only to rejoin his family, but to help other sea creatures from being caught in a fisherman’s net. A royal and triumphant return for a frightened family faced with confusion and uncertainty, finally becoming a theme of hope and happiness – a perfect, happy ending, only needing a kiss on the forehead and bedtime covers tucked in to cast a child off to sleep.

Being a SCUBA diver, I have always been awestruck by seeing sea horses in the wild, and totally spellbound when watching captive sea horses in aquariums. Such a bizarre yet kind creature, their unique design along with the name of having a horse-like head and rigid body is one of the ocean’s marvels, and undoubtedly a favorite among all. Putting a whimsical name to them, bringing them into a family, then having a bit of drama occur – albeit with a happy ending, is the wordsmithing genius of Shernock’s storytelling skills. As no other credit was given to an illustrator, one would believe she did the book pictures and text style herself as well, morphing pages into a work of children’s art very appropriate to read at bedtime.

A wonderful gift book for a toddler’s birthday party, or a keepsake book for a family library, SAMMI THE SEAHORSE will sail into the hearts of youngster’s imagination bringing the warmth and beauty of the coral reef into the dreamland of landlubber children everywhere.