Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Lighthouse Family: The Turtle
Illustrator: Preston McDaniels
Fiction Series
For ages 7 to 10
Simon and Schuster, 2006 ISBN: 978-0689863127
Winter is on its way and the little island is shrouded in fog. Because of the fog Seabold the retired sailor dog has been going out every day to sound the fog horn so that ships at sea can tell where the island is and thus save themselves from running up on the rocks. Two of the three mouse children, Whistler and Lila, are with Seabold and just when they are thinking of going home they hear someone shout out from the fog.
Whistler and Lila are soon heading to the beach under the watchful eye of Seabold. The fog is so thick that no one can see a thing so Seabold has to use his nose and his voice to find the person who has been calling out to him. Finally they find the owner of the voice; it is Aurora, a lost and very cold sea turtle.
Aurora needs to have a warm place to recover from her ordeal but getting her up to the lighthouse is going to be difficult. There is only one thing for it. Seabold must go up to the lighthouse to get Pandora, the lighthouse keeper cat who is an expert at solving problems.
Sure enough Pandora brings with her not only warm stones and a warm meal to comfort the cold turtle, but she also brings a wonderful idea of what they can do to help the gentle sea turtle get home
Once again Cynthia Rylant has created a warm-hearted book which will leave the reader with a comfortable happy feeling inside. The kindness and generosity of the lighthouse family from big strong Seabold all the way down to little baby Tiny, is refreshing and it gives one a feeling of hope.
