A story near and dear to the hearts of his family, Ben the Sea Lion by Roy Henry Vickers is a beautiful tale of an orphaned sea lion and the family who saved him.

One day Uncle Johnny catches a baby sea lion in his fishing nets and brings it home. His nephews quickly convince him to keep the sea lion until it’s strong enough to be on its own. Lovingly named, Ben, after teeben, the Tsimshian for sea lion, he quickly becomes the talk of the community. When he is strong enough to be on his own, the boys release him back to his own community of sea lions.

While this is a longer format picture book, Roy Henry Vickers creates an engaging narrative for young readers. I absolutely love how no detail is too small. In many stories by Indigenous writers, even the smallest things enter the narrative and invite readers in, as if you are enjoying a story from your own grandparent or Elder. There is a funny moment when all of the boys run down and almost out the door in their underwear. It’s not a detail about Ben himself but a really fun family anecdote that I get a good laugh at because who doesn’t enjoy a little underwear humour now and then.

The beautiful original formline illustrations are unique to Roy Henry Vickers and strongly establish the setting for the story. The illustrations are bold and full of colour to engage and invite readers to join in the journey. 

Ben the Sea Lion is also a large book. Long pages make for more room for story and illustration.