Mr Seahorse

This is the colourful story of Mr Seahorse, who takes good care of the eggs that Mrs Seahorse has laid in his pouch. While he swims about, he chats to several other fish fathers, who are all taking care of their eggs. The story ends with the babies leaving his pouch. Mr Seahorse has confidence in them and trusts that with his love and support, they will be able to make their own way in the world: “I do love you, but now you are ready to be on your own.”

The children may find parallels not only with their parents’ love and guidance but also with the support they receive from their educators and the trust in their abilities that the children experience in their daily lives. Ready to explore the world and engage with all the interesting creatures they encounter, just like Mr Seahorse, the children may want to investigate fish parenting further. Why do some species keep the eggs in their mouths and some on their heads? Who looks after the eggs in other species? 

You can also compare fish to species where the babies don’t come from eggs. Many Australian animals have pouches. How are they different from Mr Seahorse’s pouch? There is also a lot to see and discuss in the book itself: How are the animals camouflaged? What patterns and colours do they have? Why are some animals camouflaged and some aren’t?