Brrr-ace yourselves for arctic awesomeness! ❄️ S is for Seal isn’t your average ABC book—it’s a splashy gem where phonics meet flippered fun. Picture this: A goofy harp seal pup honking the /sss/ sound while sliding across ice (shoutout to Happy Feet vibes!). Illustrator Jean Claude—the genius behind W is for Whale—nails it again: Watch for cheeky details like a walrus rolling its eyes at a beluga’s off-key song (page 14), plus that viral-worthy octopus photobomb.

Surprising STEM nugget: Seals have whisker superpowers—they can track fish in pitch-black water! Could’ve tied this to The Snail and the Whale’s “towering waves” scene for bonus cross-book magic. The “Ask Me!” finale? Genius. Try quizzing kids: “Do seals sneeze?” (Spoiler: YES, but only on land!).

Tiny gripes: Missed a trick by not showing seal pups’ translucent fur (looks like wet cornflakes—kids would’ve LOL’d). But the accidental unicorn-horned pup? Pure gold. Bet your mini explorer finds it before you do. 🕵️♂️

Pair with: If Wendell Had a Walrus for a blubber buddies double feature. Pro tip: Check live seal cams from Alaska’s Glacier Bay during reading time—real-time splashes! Bonus: Make “seal snacks” (cream cheese-swirled celery = faux fish tails).