Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 10, 2015

Review

This is based on a true story about an elephant seal in Christchurch, New Zealand, who swam up a river to a town to live. After a car almost hit her as she basked in the sun in the middle of a road, townspeople moved her to a colony of elephant seals, but she swam back up the the river to her chosen spot. She was moved again, further away, returned again, was then moved hundreds of miles away. It took three months, but she again returned. This time, because the people of the town loved to see Elizabeth,they put up a sign on the road where she liked to sleep that said "SLOW. ELEPHANT SEAL CROSSING". Included is a page of Some Facts about Southern Elephant Seals like Elizabeth,a photograph of the real Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas sleeping at the edge of the road, and two good websites for further information. Very well done, illustrations go well with the text - delightful and informational.

Overall Book Score: excellent