ROCKLAND — A Seal Called Andre, originally co-written by Harry Goodridge and Lew Dietz and published by Warner Books in 1976, has been recently republished by Downeast Books with more pages chronicling the last 10 years of Andre’s life.

Harry’s four daughters, Susan Goodridge Crane, Toni Goodridge, Carol Goodridge and Paula Goodridge Armentrout were on hand Friday, Nov. 28 to sign copies of the book’s latest release at the Maine Lighthouse Museum, right at the kick off of The Rockland Festival of Lights.

While a group of people watched the documentary of Andre the seal, The Seal Who Came Home, playing in the background, others were there to meet the Goodridge sisters, tell them their own Andre stories, and of course, get their own books signed. In just over an hour, they were nearly sold out of the 50 books on hand.

“It’s been pretty even,” said Toni Goodridge. ”Not a huge surge,” she added, just as a surge of people came through the door.

Even though the sisters have not always been comfortable in the public eye, they were clearly enjoying the book signing process.

“It’s gone really well,” said Paula Goodridge Armentrout. ”Yes, it’s been a lot of fun,” said Susan Goodridge.

A Seal Called Andre is the true story of the unique human-animal friendship between Harry Goodridge and Andre, the harbor seal who was as comfortable in Goodridge's home as he was in Penobscot Bay. 

Related story: Goodridge sisters reminisce about growing up with Andre the seal

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com