Title: Ebb and Flo and the Greedy Gulls
Author: Jane Simmons
Illustrator: Jane Simmons
Publisher: Graffeg
Genre: Children’s picture book
Book format: Paperback
Sweet Strawberries: 
Description: Ebb, Flo, Mum and Bird go for a picnic by the shore, but soon some greedy gulls swoop down to eat all the food and Ebb is blamed. Ebb goes off to her favourite place and sulks, but when a storm blows in and it’s time to go home, Ebb is nowhere to be seen.
A reassuring tale of friendship and forgiveness.
*Free copy provided by publisher for review…
Review: Ebb, Flo, Mum and Bird are having a picnic on the sand while the seagulls nearby laugh. While Flo, Mum and Bird are busy, Ebb decides to take a nap near the food, on the warm sand. But while Ebb was napping the seagulls came closer and when Ebb wakes up she begins to woof when she sees the gulls stealing all the food. Soon all of the food is gone and when Flo and Mum see what’s happened, they think Ebb has eaten everything. ‘Ebb and Flo and the Greedy Gulls’ as a little wider than A4 in size and is filled with thick matt pages of some lovely illustrations and text.
The story is a simple one but I like it with the family taking the time to have a picnic on the beach. I love how the seagulls are depicted as laughing as this is exactly how I always think of them when I see them on trips to the seaside. Unfortunately, much like the real seagulls, these gulls soon eat all the food leaving Ebb to be blamed when Mum and Flo return. Poor Ebb sulks and decides to go to her favourite spot in the small boat and lie there. But soon a storm starts and the boat starts getting further and further away from the shore. Soon Ebb is so far out that the others can’t hear her woofing. The story has a good ending with the truth about who ate the food being revealed to Mum and Flo, and Ebb being happily forgiven. I love how this story reflects the true nature of seagulls, they are so greedy, I’ve had one follow me down the beach once, watching my food as I went and I felt for Ebb when reading this as I know how greedy those gulls can be.
The illustrations are so lovely, I really love the style that Jane Simmons uses. It’s so simple and yet depicts the mood and expressions of Ebb and the others so well! I really love the way Ebb looks in this, especially when she’s happily napping on the sand and at the end when she’s forgiven. The gulls also look interesting, and I like the way they always look like they are laughing or smiling. The illustrations really make this story so appealing and it wouldn’t be so good if it wasn’t for them.
Overall this is a simple but good story of Ebb and Flo and the others and their experience of those greedy gulls. It’s not my favourite Ebb and Flo story, I still think there are a couple of others I prefer, but it’s a lovely story to add to the collection! 🙂
What do you think of this book? Have you ever encountered any greedy seagulls? Let me know what you think in the comments below 🙂
The Strawberry Post 