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Children's Fiction Baby Animals

Ben the Sea Lion

illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers

Publisher
Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.
Initial publish date
May 2022
Category
Baby Animals, Environment, Native Canadian
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781550179736
    Publish Date
    May 2022
    List Price
    $22.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781550179743
    Publish Date
    Mar 2022
    List Price
    $22.95

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Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 5 to 8
  • Grade: k to 3

Description

Tsimshian storyteller and artist Roy Henry Vickers shares an adventure from his childhood in the Indigenous village of Kitkatla, on BC’s north coast.

When Uncle Johnny accidentally catches an orphaned sea lion pup in his fishing net, young Roy and his cousin Bussy take responsibility for nursing the tiny creature back to health. They name the pup Ben, short for Teeben—the Tsimshian word for sea lion. With the boys’ loving care, Ben eats and eats and grows and grows, getting up to all sorts of fun in Kitkatla, including towing the boys in their skiff and showing local dogs who is boss! Eventually, Ben must return to the wild, leaving his human friends to remember him fondly.

Fifteen original illustrations by Roy Henry Vickers accompany the text, capturing the beauty of the West Coast and the richness of village life. Ben the Sea Lion will delight readers of all ages.

About the author

Roy Henry Vickers is a renowned carver, painter and printmaker whose Eagle Aerie Gallery in Tofino, BC, has become a provincial landmark. Roy was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 1998 and to the Order of Canada in 2006. He is the co-author of the immensely popular children's Northwest Coast Legends series, of which three books were shortlisted for the Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award: Raven Brings the Light in 2014, Cloudwalker in 2015 and Orca Chief in 2016. He is the author of several other books that showcase his art, including Storyteller (Harbour Publishing, 2014). He currently lives in Hazelton, BC.

Roy Henry Vickers' profile page

Awards

  • Long-listed, First Nation Communities READ

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