Maya Helps a Baby Seal
Girl waving
Written by Kim Barry, Sara Dustin,
Leah McGunnigle, and Helen Virga
Illustrated by Darcy Schwartz

Baby seal swimming after a school of herring.

One day, a baby seal was swimming in the ocean. He was very hungry. He saw a school of herring . Herring was one of the baby seal's favorite fish to eat.


Baby seal swimming down the creek.

Trying to eat them, the baby seal followed the herring down a winding creek for a long time. 


Baby seal looking backwards.

The baby seal began to feel tired. Glancing back, he could not see his home, the ocean, anymore. 


Baby seal stopping at the side of the creek.

He swam to the side of the creek so he could rest. 


A little girl standing by a house.

When the baby seal glanced up, he saw a little girl. He wondered whether she could help him get back to his home.


A little girl sees a baby seal.

Maya, the little girl, noticed something move on the side of the creek . She could not believe her eyes! “Mommy, come here,” she cried. 


A little girl looking surprised.

“There is a baby seal in the creek behind our backyard. I think he needs help!” exclaimed Maya.


A little girl with her mother on the phone.

“You are right," said Maya's mother. "The police will know how to help. Let’s call them!”


A police officer with the little girl and her mother.

Soon, a police officer arrived at Maya’s house. “Someone at the aquarium will know how to help. I will call them,” said the police officer.


A marine biologist.

A marine biologist , from the aquarium , soon arrived at Maya's house.


A little girl with the marine biologist.

He explained to Maya that the baby seal was lost. "We will help him return to his home in the ocean," he said. 


A marine biologist with baby seal in a cage.

The marine biologist carefully put the baby seal in a special crate. Then he placed the crate in the back of his truck.


Little girl and her mother driving with marine biologist and baby seal.

He invited Maya and her mother to come with him to the ocean. 


Marine biologist putting baby seal in the ocean.

Maya and her mother watched the marine biologist open the crate and help the baby seal into the water. The baby seal was back at home! 


Little girl, mother, and marine biologist waving to baby seal in the ocean.

Maya and her mother waved goodbye as the baby seal happily swam away.


The End!


Dedicated to the children in the Brockton Public School System.

 

 

This book is an adaptation of "Maya Helps a Friend" written by Kim Barry, Sara Dustin,
Leah McGunnigle, and Helen Virga from the Joseph Downey Elementary School in Brockton, MA
.

Special thanks to the Massachusetts Department of Education whose funding supported teachers and parents in the development of this story. © CAST, 2005

Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to use the following materials in this book:
 
Clipart.com: approach, chuckle, cub, den, flamingo, jaguar, lion, monkey, mountain goat, peaceful, spy, spring, wade,  zookeeper
© 2009 JupiterimagesCorporation all rights reserved.

Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to use the following
materials in this book:
 Clipart.com: Seal (seal)