It is often assumed that gestation, birth, and caring for the young are roles exclusively associated with the mother. However, in nature, this is not always the case! Who would have thought that some types of fish have a mother who lays the eggs and a father who takes care of them until the young are born? Usually, among fish, after the mother lays the eggs and the father fertilizes them, the eggs are left on their own. The hippocampus, commonly known as the seahorse, on the other hand, not only does not abandon the eggs but cares for them? The father! It is truly a pleasant surprise.
Publisher: Mondadori, 2005 | Pages: 36 p., ill. Hardback
EAN: 9788804543718 | Recommended reading age: From 3 years
Our reading recommendation for this month, “Mr Seahorse”, is a beautiful book by Eric Carle that tells us about a seahorse who is about to become a dad and dedicates himself to keeping his eggs safe in his marsupium, a pocket in his belly.
The author takes our little readers by the hand and, together with Daddy Hippocampus, leads them swimming on the seabed, accompanying them on an exciting journey to discover other marine creatures and other daddy fish who carefully look after their eggs.
The story, very delicate, is accompanied by beautiful illustrations by the author himself, created in his unique illustrative style. These illustrations consist of paper collages hand-painted by the author, vibrant and colorful, making them especially appealing to younger children.
Furthermore, among the pages of the book, in a game of discovery, some transparent illustrated sheets reveal the various fish hiding on the seabed. This stimulates the imagination and curiosity of the readers, allowing them to play while reading and creating an additional game effect within the story.
Taking inspiration from nature, the story highlights the importance of fathers within the family, how their presence, their help, and their care are fundamental to raising the little ones from when they are eggs.
It is a book that surprises and encourages reflection on the equality of roles and functions assigned to mothers and fathers, challenging the roles that dominant thinking has traditionally attributed to them.
Our Hippocampus is a truly special dad!
Credits
Maria Beatrice Lupi is a naturalist and an expert in training, sustainable development planning, participatory methodologies, and European planning. She is currently engaged in dissemination and education for sustainability.
Translated by Maria Antonietta Sessa
