Ben the Sea Lion - by Roy Henry Vickers (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Tsimshian storyteller and artist Roy Henry Vickers shares an adventure from his childhood in the Indigenous Pacific Northwest village of Kitkatla.

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.

Review Quotes

""The story flows conversationally, as if the
narrator is sitting in front of the reader, telling a familiar and
oft-requested tale. The illustrations are especially eye-catching, with bright
and vivid colors, each page beautifully capturing moments from the story. Ben
may have returned to the waters where he belonged, but it is clear that he has
remained in the hearts of those who knew him, and will undoubtedly swim into
the readers' affections as well." -Children's Literature, 5-star review

"One of the great problems we face today is our sense of isolation and separateness from the rest of the world. Roy Henry Vickers' art constantly reminds us of the interconnectedness of everything in the world." -David Suzuki, environmental activist, broadcaster, author