The seal prince

the long version

A beautiful retelling of the ancient legends of selkies (the seal people) and their relationship with humans. On her eighth birthday a young princess helps an infant seal and every year on her birthday the seal reappears to her in human form. She offered his hand in marriage but turns him down as she feels great responsibility to her aging parents. In the end, when her fed up father, offers her in marriage to whom ever brings him the largest catch of fish, the young Selkie prince takes matters in to his own hands and floods the royal hall with fish. He lives with the princess on land until their children are grown and then they take to the sea. The story is accompanied by gorgeous, lush illustrations which bring the tale to life. My children adore this story.