The beautifully colored, full-spread illustrations portray the seal's transformation from awkward land dweller to sinuous and powerful denizen of the deep. The below-water scenes masterfully evoke the murky ocean habitat and the singular seal's steep descent to the bottom. From the irresistible cover to the closing "super-swimming underwater wonder," the book will encourage readers to dive right in and see what a seal can do. --School Library Journal (starred review) Debut illustrator Nelms's naturalistic mixed-media spreads feature a light-infused garden of sea grasses and coral; readers should find the seal, with his marbled gray skin and soulful, puppylike expression to be irresistible. --Publishers Weekly [I]mpressively illustrated. Textured, realistic-looking mixed-media illustrations in aqua or sandy hues show the creature at home in both of its natural habitats, gracefully shooting through the water and "flumping" along on land. An author's note on the copyright page tells more about wild seals; illustrations of the eighteen types of "true seals" appear on the front and back endpapers. --The Horn Book 'See What a Seal Can Do' is almost as good as swimming alongside a friendly seal, and you won't have to put on a wet suit.

--The New York Times Online.