These illustrations are from a book called Sea Bea which I wrote and illustrated for my oldest daughter about overcoming fear and embracing wonder, 2009-2010.

SEA BEA
Written & Illustrated by Emrys Huntington
Title Page

Since you don’t know Bea, we’ll start at the beginning,
Around the time she was taking up swimming.

But one look at the waves and in, she won’t go.

Instead of swimming, she’d become a digger.

Her shovel was trusty, but her bucket was gone.

Don’t have legs. Why don’t you ask the boys?”

“Uni,” she asked, “have you got a clue?”
With his horn in the air and his hooves in the ocean,
The unicorn said, “This wave took it, that’s my notion.”

The beach isn’t better: too much sand on my skin.
There are hermit crabs snapping under the kelp
And sea urchins that make me jump with a yelp.

So the unicorn said, “I’ll grant you one fishy wish.”

“Turn my beach towel into a magic carpet!

And take me down deep to where the sea lions swim,
Mom and Dad are napping and won’t miss a thing.”

Uni warned, “The only way there is to jump off the pier.”
Bea replied, “That’s something I don’t want to hear.”
The diving board reached out into empty space
And Bea knew she was no high-diving ace.

But this time, with her unicorn, Bea made a cannonball.

“Uni,” she gulped, “there’s no time for delay:

So the unicorn said, “Please, ride on me instead,”

And ask the king and queen what’s become of your pail.”

Turning my tail into a fin feels so strange.”


Then, down, down they raced on a road of water
To the grand sea ball to see the ocean’s daughters.

While one princess wore the most peculiar crown.

Here comes the parade to the underwater ball
“All undersea creatures, come one, come all!”


Who, blowing too hard, accidentally whipped up a storm.

It was aquatic disaster: even the clam swallowed his pearl.


When Bea was in trouble it always worked out well.
“Uni,” she asked, “Could you get me a shell?

And Uni yelped, “Fish! Let’s flee for the shore.”

Snagged on the unicorn’s horn, the bucket spun.

The maelstrom into a tidal pool.

Bea marched triumphantly back onto the sand.

Rubbing her eyes, she asked Mom and Dad,
“Do you know about the adventure we’ve had?”
Mom replied, “We? Little thing, it’s time for a nap,
You’ve had enough water,” and Bea crawled into her lap.

“Uni,” she mumbled, “Tomorrow, something new?”
“Whatever you wish, Bea, but first swim through the night,
Dream of flying fishes. In the morning, we’ll take flight.”
Other Illustrations



