THE ORPHAN SEAL, written by Fran Hodgkins, illustrated by Dawn Peterson, Down East Books, Camden, 2000, paperback, 32 pages, $9.95.

A baby seal is torn from his mother by a storm. Even after he has freed himself from the pounding surf and struggled to shore, his troubles are far from over. He still needs his mother’s milk for nourishment, but his mother is nowhere to be found.

A man and boy find the pup and call the New England Aquarium in Boston. When it seems certain the seal’s mother will not return, a seal rescue team sets out for the Maine coast.

Fran Hodgkins’ “The Orphan Seal” describes the process from the seal’s gentle capture to eventual release into his natural habitat. It’s sure to appeal to children with scientific curiosity and animal lovers of all ages.

The staff at the aquarium name the pup Howler because of his loud voice. Because he has not been weaned, Howler is at first fed a complicated formula designed to resemble seal milk. He thrives and puts on weight. When he has been at the aquarium for three months, he must begin acquiring the necessary skills for independent living. He’s placed in a tank with small, live fish. At first, he thinks chasing them is a game, but eventually, the fish replace formula as his food.

Hodgkins said animal rescuers must maintain a difficult balance. Their charges are being groomed for eventual ocean release, so they must carry out the nurturing and teaching tasks of a mother seal without making the babies too trusting or dependent on people.

“We don’t want them to learn, `Humans don’t mean me any harm.’ That creates danger down the road,” said Hodgkins. “And we don’t want them to come on the beach and chase someone looking for a handout.”

It can be quite a struggle for the workers not to get emotionally attached.

“They try not to give them nicknames. But, being human, they can’t resist,” said Hodgkins.

While going along on a seal release, Hodgkins said he was deeply impressed with the dedication of the aquarium staff. “They got up at the crack of dawn on a windy, rainy day in January. I don’t know how many people would be willing to give up a Saturday to return an animal to the wild, especially in such lousy weather.”

Illustrator Dawn Peterson has been commended for her ability to make animals appealing to children, while drawing them correctly to look like real animals. She feels that a “slick style” loses the essence of the creature. This respectful love of her subjects is very evident in her depiction of Howler. His charm, playfulness, alertness and keen intelligence shine through.

Snoozing on the beach, Howler is vulnerable. But, even in his weakened state, he is capable of giving an animal rehabilitator wary scrutiny. Recovering and learning to catch his own food, he shows some pretty sharp teeth. As he heads out to sea, you believe the little guy is going to make it. In other words, you can’t help falling for Howler’s charm, but you know he’s in a different league from your puppy or kitten. You sense that he’d be miserable growing up confined and that his being released to an independent life is a happy ending.

Because too many wild animals are injured or killed by people with the best of intentions, Peterson is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach readers that rehabilitation, if necessary, is best left to professionals.

“You shouldn’t go up and touch a baby seal. It might not be orphaned. And you could get bitten,” she said.

If you’d like a book that will charm your family while conveying an important message, “The Orphan Seal” is a great investment.