Seasick Sea Horse

Purrmaids #3

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

AR Test

At A Glance

Interest Level

6+

Entertainment
Score

Reading Level
3.5

Number of Pages
96

Shelly always has to share everything. At home, she shares with her sister. At school, she shares with her best friends, but sometimes she just does not want to share. When Ms. Harbor shows the class the new class pet, a sea horse, the students are excited to take care of it. When Shelly is chosen to take the sea horse home, she is excited that the pet will be her responsibility. But Shelly’s two friends also want to help take care of the sea horse. Shelly tells her friends that they can’t help, but taking care of a sea horse is harder than Shelly thought it would be. Will Shelly’s friends be angry with her? Can she take care of the class pet without any help?

A fun and entertaining story, Seasick Sea Horse focuses on the importance of taking care of the ocean and the creatures that make the ocean their home. Ms. Harbor tells the class, “It is important for purrmaids to learn how to treat the creatures we encounter in our ocean.” Throughout the story, the reader will learn several interesting facts about sea creatures as well as the importance of picking up trash so it does not end up hurting sea life. When the purrmaids need more information about sea horses, they go to the library and check out books so they can research sea horses.

Seasick Sea Horse also reinforces the idea that something does not always need to be done the same way. For example, when Shelly’s friend cuts salad ingredients differently than Shelly, the salad still tastes good. Shelly needs to learn that “you can be in charge and let other purrmaids help you.” The story highlights that purrmaids often need help in order to get everything done.

Seasick Sea Horse is perfect for readers who are able to read chapter books. The story has easy vocabulary, short sentences, and cute black-and-white illustrations approximately every three pages. Younger readers will enjoy the cat puns and sea similes that are incorporated into the story, like “fin-tastic,” “cat-tastrophe,” and “big as an orca.” Even though Seasick Sea Horse is part of a series, the stories do not have to be read in order. The Purrmaid series takes readers on an underwater swim that teaches valuable lessons as well as entertains.

Sexual Content