Absolutely hilarious.

Kirkus Reviews

Seahorses Are Sold Out

A lockdown bestseller and high spirited story about an enterprising only child and a single-father’s juggle to work from home.

Mika’s father works from home and he’s very busy! He can never find time for the promised swimming trip. So Dad allows Mika to choose a pet from the store while he finishes the project—something quiet like a mouse. And so begins a wonderfully turbulent story in which Mika brings home one animal after another… The mouse gets lost so they need a dog to find it. The dog is followed by a seal, the seal a penguin. One pet for Mika leads to another and another. How many animals can come to stay before a harassed father notices?

A relatable, cheerful and wild picture book for families, with a single-parent juggling working from home and childcare. Celebrating Mika’s initiative and creativity, this is a fun and absurd story ideal for 5-7 year olds to read independently or together. Featuring a single dad working from home and gender neutral child, Mika, this picture book allows young readers of all ages to identify with diverse characters.

Written by Constanze Spengler, illustrated by Katja Gehrmann and translated by Shelley Tanaka.

Ebook available wherever you buy your ebooks.


  • Book Details

    Country of Origin Germany
    Reader Age 5-7 year
    Book Size
    ISBN

  • Reviews

    1. Manhattan Book Review

      This story will delight children ages four to seven, while also entertaining busy parents who struggle with working from home and entertaining their kids.

    2. Armadillo Magazine

      A hilarious story, one that develops incrementally with every turn of the page and will enthral readers as they try to second guess wah Mika will do next.

    3. Business Post Ireland

      Hilarious tale of work-from-home disaster … a charming fable about the parent-child connection, especially relevant to the last 18 months.

    4. CBCA Reading Time

      Animal lovers will adore this book! This book is ideal for children aged 4 – 7 years and would be an excellent resource in a school or public library.

    5. YA Books Central

      A charming buildable story about a menagerie of pets, Seahorses Are Sold Out is a silly picture book that is sure to make readers giggle.

    6. Luminous Libro

      This was such a fun and silly book!

    7. Homeschooling Abhi Instagram

      A hilarious story to read with children. I love how the character of Mika has no pronoun.

    8. NetGalley Reviewer

      The illustrations are just phenomenal! They are detailed, colourful, full of action and emotion…Pitch Perfect.

    9. Love Four Learning

      Here is a book that shows a single Dad and never uses a pronoun for its protagonist all whilst being an entertaining page turner in a longer picture book format. It is also a celebration of children’s independence and ingenuity.

    10. Read Plus

      Seahorses Are Sold Out is a very humorous story that will appeal to younger readers.

    11. Collected #27 SLANZA

      This fun picture book shows how independent our young people can be, and how sometimes bedlam can follow.

    12. Kirkus Reviews

      Lively, colorful illustrations drawn in loose black outlines track this incredible saga of a bored kid, an opportunistic pet-shop owner, and a clueless father in comic double-page spreads chronicling Mika’s wild, unsupervised activities, culminating in a surprising climax. Absolutely hilarious.

    13. Youth Services Book Review

      I love the way Mika is independent, makes their own fun, and handles any difficulties that arise. The illustrations, which look to be paint and crayon, are colorful and full of motion and detail. Mika’s dad, while utterly immersed in work, is also kind and is drawn with love and warmth.


Available worldwide from your local bookstore or online.

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