The Sign of the Seahorse: A Tale of Greed and High Adventure in Two Acts (Picture Puffin Books) - Softcover

Base, Graeme

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140563873 ISBN 13: 9780140563870

Publisher: Puffin Books, 1998

Synopsis

Romance, mystery and intrigue revolve around the Seahorse Cafe, where the beautiful Pearl Trout falls in love with Corporal Bert the Soldiercrab. But Reeftown is in danger, and soon Pearl, Bert, and Pearl's brother Finneus must journey through the ocean depths to find the source of the deadly poison that is destroying the coral reef.

"Graeme Base's witty rhymes and dynamic, radiantly colored illustrations, should keep both reader and audience immensely entertained."—Publishers Weekly.

"Base will surely delight his many fans with this latest high-color, high-action, high-density composition, with a high-minded ecological message"—School Library Journal

About this title

About the Author:

Graeme Base is one of the world’s leading creators of picture books. Animalia received international acclaim when it was first published in 1986, and it has achieved classic status with worldwide sales of more than two million copies. Base’s most recent picture book, The Water Hole, an ingenious fusion of counting book, puzzle book, storybook and artbook, has been published in Australia, the USA, Canada, Italy, France, Denmark and the UK. Base lives in Melbourne with his artist wife Robyn and their three children.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4 Up-- As in Animalia (1987), Base will surely delight his many fans with this latest high-color, high-action, high-density composition. Instead of an Eleventh Hour (1990, both Abrams) mystery, Seahorse features high adventure, romance, and intrigue, redeemed by a high-minded ecological message. The theme is not as deep as the underwater setting--a coral reef poisoned by pollution--where the all-fish-and-crustacean cast pits a villain, Gropmund Grouper, (responsible for the toxic waste) against Pearl Trout; her brother Finn; and her true love, Corporal Bert of the Soldiercrab Army. Godfather-like Gropmund spawns a nefarious scheme to defraud the reef's inhabitants while destroying their environment, but he and his ``henchfish'' are finally routed by Pearl and Finn's steadfastness (aided by Combat Lobster 46903). Copious light-verse couplets and suitably melodramatic diction convey the fishy plot of this politically correct entertainment. ``Base-ic'' instinct will lure young readers through the bright pages, even if the subpoetic text proves a sinker for some. --Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0140563873
• ISBN 13: 9780140563870
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Base Graeme