Ebb dashes to the beach to find the source of an intriguing “wah wah” sound; there, she meets a lost but frisky baby seal, who unlike Mom and Flo, does not object to a romp on the beach in a downpour. After a satisfying day on the sand, the waves, and the rock pools, Ebb is hungry and wants to go home, but slowly comes to understand why the baby seal does not head for its own. Ebb’s loud insistent woofs summon Mom and Flo, who find a way to reunite the baby with its mother. Color illustrations wash over the clearly discernible text, evoking a soft tenderness, a love of the ocean, and an appreciation for kindness. The third in the Ebb and Flo stories (Ebb and Flo and the New Friend, 1999, etc.), this is a delight to the eye and soul—and a welcome return of a charming character. (Picture book. 3-7)
