It's smooth sailing for Rylant's (the Henry and Mudge series) sweet, sea-inspired tale, first in a new series 0f early chapter book readers. Pandora the cat has weathered her share of rough waters, but for the past four years she has enjoyed her dream job as lighthouse keeper. Even so, she is a little weary of the isolation that comes with it. When a violent storm shipwrecks a sailor dog named Seabold practically on her beacon's doorstep, Pandora's life changes for the better. She and Seabold become great friends and caring companions. Together they take in a trio of orphaned mice, fulfilling the prophecy of the series name. The imminently likable characters magnify the cozy theme that families come in all configurations. With short chapters and the occasional dramatic moment, the text will keep young readers turning the pages and on the lookout for future titles in the series. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 6-10. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
The Storm
Narrated by Mark Nelson
Cynthia RylantUnabridged — 49 minutes
The Storm
Narrated by Mark Nelson
Cynthia RylantUnabridged — 49 minutes
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Overview
Editorial Reviews
Gr 2-4-Pandora the cat is a lighthouse keeper, a lonely avocation until Seabold the dog is washed up on shore during a terrible winter storm. She rescues and nurses him back to health, and he is content to remain for a long winter's respite from his travels in the no-longer lonely lighthouse. "Pandora and Seabold told each other stories of their lives and things they had read or seen and what they liked most in the world, or least." Through spring and summer, the two friends share a life, and "Everything at the lighthouse is different." But as September approaches, Seabold readies his boat to return to the sea, and "Pandora felt a small emptiness in her heart." One early fall day, a fierce storm blows in, and with it comes a small, strange vessel. Seabold rescues its occupants, three tiny orphan mice, and Pandora nurses them back to health. They join the dog and cat at the lighthouse, "And after that day, everything was changed.- The lighthouse had a family." This kindhearted Victorian tale, with charming illustrations reminiscent of the work of Beatrix Potter, offers up just enough danger to save it from outright mawkishness. The Storm will captivate young chapter-book readers.-Dona Ratterree, New York City Public Schools Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
At her best, Rylant's (The Ticky-Tacky Doll, below, etc.) sweetness and sentiment fills the heart; in this outing, however, sentimentality reigns and the end result is pretty gooey. Pandora keeps a lighthouse: her destiny is to protect ships at sea. She's lonely, but loves her work. She rescues Seabold and heals his broken leg, and he stays on to mend his shipwrecked boat. This wouldn't be so bad but Pandora's a cat and Seabold a dog, although they are anthropomorphized to the max. Then the duo rescue three siblings-mice!-and make a family together, although Rylant is careful to note that Pandora and Seabold each have their own room. Choosing what you love, caring for others, making a family out of love, it is all very well, but this capsizes into silliness. Formatted to look like the start of a new series. Oh, dear. (Fiction. 6-8)
Publishers Weekly It's smooth sailing for Rylant's sweet, sea-inspired tale...(which) will keep young readers turning the pages-and on the lookout for future titles in the series.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170993987 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Recorded Books, LLC |
| Publication date: | 10/31/2008 |
| Series: | Lighthouse Family , #1 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Age Range: | 5 - 8 Years |
Read an Excerpt
Storm
In a lonely lighthouse, far from city and town, far from the comfort of friends, lived a kindhearted cat named Pandora.
She had been living at this lighthouse all alone for four long years, and it was beginning to wear. She found herself sighing long, deep, lonely sighs. She sat on the rocks overlooking the waves far too long. Sometimes her nose got a sunburn.
And at night, when she tried to read by the lantern light, her mind wandered and she would think for hours on her childhood when she had friends and company.
Why did Pandora accept this lonely lighthouse life?
Because a lighthouse had once saved her.
When Pandora was but a kitten, she and her father had gone sailing aboard a grand schooner, bound for a new country. Pandora’s mother had stayed behind, with the baby, to join them later.
And while they were at sea, Pandora and her father were shaken from their beds one night by an awful twisting of the ship’s great bow.
“Stay here, Pandora!” her father had commanded. “Stay here and wait until I come for you!”
They were in a terrible storm. The wind was howling, and the waves crashed hard upon them. Worse, a deep fog had spread itself all over the water, and it is fog that will bring a ship to its end. Fog that will blind a sailor’s eyes until his ship has hit the jagged shore and torn itself to pieces.
Pandora’s father knew this as he strained with the others to keep the ship’s sails aloft and his daughter trembled in her bed. He knew what somber danger they were in.
But Pandora’s father was a brave cat and he would not give up hope. He would hold tight to the riggings with the others until help, in whatever form, might come to them.
In time, the winds began to settle and the waves grew smaller. But the dense fog refused to lift.
The ship’s captain was clearly worried. For he knew these waters they sailed in. He knew the long history of ships gone down.
And he carried little hope that help might come to them, that someone might lead them away from the deadly shore. For only a lighthouse might show them the way, and there had been no working light on these waters for a hundred years.
So it was with much bewilderment, and amazement, and overwhelming joy that he heard, first, the deep, clear sound of a foghorn, then saw before him a light. Yes, a light! And it was not the light of another ship or small boat. Only a very powerful lamp could make itself seen through a fog like this. Only the lamp of a lighthouse.
“Pull leeward!” cried the captain. “Away from the light!”
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