Samantha Seagull's Sandals

Gordon Winch (author)

Tony Oliver (illustrator)

New Frontier Publishing, Australia: 2011

ISBN: 9781921042652

Genres: picture book

Issues: differences, identity

Samantha the silver seagull wants to be different – to express her identity in some way that helps her stand out from the flock.

Tired of looking like all the other young gulls, Samantha decides that shoes are the way to go. But high heels sink in the sand and she falls over; gumboots fill with water when she tries to float on the waves; and the water ruins the purple pom-poms on her orange slippers. Samantha's friend Simon tries to convince her that she's beautiful just the way she is but she doesn't believe him. It is not until Samantha becomes different in a way that she really didn't expect that she learns to value Simon's loyalty and ability to love her – just the way she is.

Gordon Winch's light-hearted story encourages readers to accept themselves as they are – an excellent reminder for young children who are as often driven by their need to fit in as Samantha is by her need to stand out. In a neat conclusion, Winch incorporates a natural change that occurs in some silver gulls (their legs turn red on maturity) as a final 'lesson' to readers – that they need to accept changes as they occur, welcome or not.

Tony Oliver is a well-respected wildlife artist who has done work for the Australian Geographic Society, including their calendars. In Samantha Seagull's Sandals he combines that realistic style with an edge of caricature, allowing Samantha's personality and Simon's compassion to shine through.

The combination of Oliver's illustrations and Winch's text forms a slightly comical story that youngsters will thoroughly enjoy.