Whether you have children or not, you’ll probably be familiar with the story The Tiger That Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. It’s a favourite for people of every age and a story you could read over and over again since its publication in the 1960s.
Author Judith Kerr has recently released another book titled Mister Cleghorn’s Seal. Unlike her Mog series, it is not a picture book – instead it is a short novel about a man who finds a seal and decides to take it back to his flat. We can’t honestly say that if I found an abandoned seal on a rock in the middle of the sea I would take it back to my home, but we did love reading about Mr Albert Cleghorn and his new pet Charlie’s adventures.
With no pets allowed in his flat (and especially not seal pups!), Mr Cleghorn sets about finding a good home for Charlie. As time goes on he begins to wonder why he can’t keep the seal – after all, the Janitor need never find out.
Mister Cleghorn’s Seal is funny, sad and incredibly thought provoking. It holds the same charm that all of Judith Kerr’s previous books have contained, and her pencilled illustrations give it a classic look. It makes a great bedtime story and it has already become a favourite in our home. It keeps children interested, whether they’re young and having the story read to them or older and reading it themselves.
It’s safe to say that over time Mister Cleghorn’s Seal will become as much of a classic as The Tiger That Came to Tea.
You can buy a hardback copy of Mister Cleghorn’s Seal from Amazon here (RRP: 12.99)
