Reviews and Endorsements – Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure

Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure. Publisher: CaribbeanReads. Genre: Children’s fiction (picture book). Year of Release: 2017. ISBN-0999237217/ISBN-13: 978-0999237212 Illustrated by: Danielle Boodoo-Fortune. Formats: kindle, hardcover, paperback, audiobook, Spanish language edition

Synopsis: When an Arctic seal named Dolphin finds himself far from home in the warm Caribbean sea, he has to rely on new friends for help. Will he make his way back to his Arctic home? Inspired by the true story of Wadadli, a young male hooded seal who left his home in the North Atlantic and found himself stranded in the Caribbean Sea just off of the island of Antigua. Previously published as Fish Outta Water (Pearson Education, 2013), this edition, includes all new art work and a puzzle. First Page First Page (Perdida!)

REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS

#Endorsements
“It is a very cute little book about a seal that has an adventure at sea and it was very nice to find an author who does not underestimate children in a way of approaching the subjects. Generally (something) that bores me a little (with) children’s writers is the lack of depth in the topics. So, it was quite refreshing to find in this book a little bit of that search for identity and find(ing) a place in this beautiful and vast world; (it) also talks about self-discovery and respect for differences. They are important issues and it is cool that they start (learning about them) from childhood.” (translated from Spanish) – escritores negros de Americas – escritores de Antigua y Barbuda re Perdida!

“Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure by Antiguan author Joanne C. Hillhouse Beautifully illustrated by Trinidadian artist Danielle Boodoo-Fortune, Lost! is inspired by the story of an Arctic seal which found itself in the Caribbean seas a few years ago. The book pulls children into a fun adventure about kindness and friendship that will leave them with a greater appreciation of our marine environment. Lost! includes a fun maze which gives children a chance to help the lost seal find his way home.” — Discover Montserrat

Lost! is a tale, based on a true story, about a marine mammal who finds himself – by accident – in a strange new ecosystem. Unsure of some of the strange creatures around him, the wayward Arctic seal must rely on advice from these strangers to make his way back home. He meets some characters that remind him of his own family, which inspires him to keep the faith that he’ll be able to return home before too long. In the real world, scientists and conservationists do go to heroic lengths to help return stranded animals to the habitats they call home where they can continue to recover and thrive again. A wonderful and inspiring story for all ages.” — Carole McCauley, marine educator

#Reviews

(book reviews published)
“Children will likely relate well to this story of getting lost while daydreaming and to the reassurance that kindly adults will look after strays. The book also gives them a chance to learn more about the work of environmentalists and Caribbean sea life. An appealing book, all the more so for being based on real life.” – Kirkus Reviews

(blogged)
“Dolphin an Arctic seal finds himself in the Caribbean sea. Disoriented he will have to rely on his new Caribbean friends before humans show up to  rescue him. This was a charming, honest narrative about friendship and adventure. The writer touches on ocean pollution as well which I appreciated. It opens the door for discussions on preserving our earth and wildlife.” – Nonna’s Corner at the Caffeinated Reviewer

“Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure is an enjoyable read that is sure to captivate young readers. The author has chosen an interesting topic to write about, and one that many people may not be aware of – the work of environmentalists to help Arctic seals (and other sea animals)….The illustrations are fantastic and use every color of the rainbow, with several pictures reminiscent of Peter Max artwork from the 60s. … enjoy a fun adventure while also learning some fascinating facts about seals in Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure.” – Feathered Quill Book Reviews
Hillhouse_Lost Feathered Quill

#Reader Reviews (and shout outs)

(Instagram)
“Such an amazing read!! M&M were so engaged & really enjoyed this one!”

(Blog)
“First visit to your wonderful blog! I am anxious to follow so I know when the picture book comes back out!! How can I not be intrigued by such a happy Jellyfish!”

(Amazon)
“This is a very sweet story about home, family and friendship that any child is bound to enjoy. The illustrations are colorful and full of life and do a good job of bringing the adorable characters to life. This story is great to read for fun but could also be a great addition to a classroom. It lends itself to lessons and discussions around a variety of topics: acceptance and making new friends, sea creatures, environmental conservation, learning who to trust, etc.”

(Facebook)
“my children absolutely loved it…especially knowing that it has a Caribbean flavour.”

“Great book.”

“Such a cute story … fantastic illustrations.”

(Goodreads)
“A heart-warming tale with the lyrical story-telling style we have come to expect from Joanne C. Hillhouse. The illustrations by Danielle Boodoo Fortune are vibrant and capture the magic of this Caribbean Sea adventure.”

“fun and inspiring”

(Personal notes)
“The book is wonderfully written. I love it very, very much and so does (my son). We read it quite often. We’re going to be going back and making a few more purchases very soon, and I just wanted to say thank you so much for this. It’s really cool what you’re doing and I really hope that you don’t stop and I’m looking forward to reading all of your books with (my son).”

“Lost is going to do really well. It has all the right ingredients … colourful and attractive … looks Caribbean and shows off the Caribbean’s greatest asset … the sea …oh, and it’s a really cool story.”

“I just had a vision of it being a television cartoon series…it’s really beautiful….that Seal could have many great adventures…congrats again. So proud of you!!”

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Related links:
Lost! official launch release
Lost! pub day
Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure December 2017 launch
Lost! available as an audio book
Lost! interview with The Feathered Quill
Lost! book chat

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