The Whale (The Lighthouse Family Series) ANNOTATION
A family of animals that lives in a lighthouse helps a lost baby beluga whale find his mother.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Pandora, Seabold, Whistler, Lila, and Tiny have all been enjoying the love and comfort that being a family brings. It is a comfort they are unexpectedly reminded of when Whistler and Lila hear the cries of a lonely baby beluga whale named Sebastian. When they learn that he has lost his mama, the Lighthouse Family, with the help of a cranky but noble old cormorant named Huck, does all it can to bring Sebastian and his mother together again.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
In The Whale, the second book in the Lighthouse Family series by Cynthia Rylant, with sepia-toned graphite illustrations by Preston McDaniels, the young mice Whistler and Lila come across a baby beluga whale who has lost his mother. They enlist the help of a cranky old cormorant named Huck to find the whale's mother in this sequel to The Storm, which PW called "a sweet, sea-inspired tale... [that] will keep readers turning the pages." Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Marya Jansen-Gruber
There is an island somewhere on which there is a lonely lighthouse. Not that long ago a lonesome cat called Pandora used to spend her days at the lighthouse, tending the lighthouse lamp, baking bread, and working in her garden. Though Pandora was not exactly unhappy, she also was not as happy as she is now. For now Pandora is no longer alone on her island. First a sea dog landed on her beach, worn out and injured by a terrible storm. It was not long before the dog, Seabold, felt very much at hope living with Pandora. Then the sea brought forth another vessel of weary travelers. This time it was three little mice children who slept before the fire in the lighthouse cottage. Orphaned and in need of a home the mice, Whistler, Lila and Tiny, soon came to feel that the lighthouse with its kindly cat and dog was their family. Pandora, Seabold and the children have settled down together very well, finding plenty to do and sharing their joys with each other. The only thing the little mice did not have was "adventure," something dear to the heart of the sailor dog Seabold. So Whistler and his little sister Lila set off looking for something new and interesting and they come up with a truly enormous adventure. In one of the coves of their island the two mice children find a baby whale. He is crying very loudly indeed and is very upset. The mice soon find out that the whale has lost his Mama and does not know where to look for her. The mice take it upon themselves to find the whale's mother and they end up have all sorts of wonderful experiences. With a gentle feel to it that is soothing and comfortable, this charming little chapter book with its lovely illustrations is a real treasure. It is apleasure to continue sharing the lives of Pandora, Seabold, and the mice children, all lost souls who needed a family. The story reminds us that families come in all shapes and sizes. We also see how special true kindness can be even if the package it comes in is crabby and irascible. With characters that one can identify with and a simple story, this book is sure to delight beginner readers. 2003, Simon and Schuster, and Ages 7 to 10.
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-The Lighthouse family consists of Pandora, the cat; Seabold, the dog; and their adopted mice children, Whistler, Lila, and baby Tiny. In this adventure, Whistler and Lila help to reunite a baby beluga whale with his mother. While the characterizations are first rate and the sense of family harmony is stressed, the story is a bit thin and some of the dialogue seems strained. To help the tiny mice with the rescue, Rylant introduces Huck, the cormorant-"a soggy old bird" with a bad attitude. McDaniels's wonderful black-and-white graphite drawings capture the personalities of each of the animals. The layout and drawings are old-fashioned without being fussy and add needed drama to a somewhat simplistic story.-Barbara Buckley, Rockville Centre Public Library, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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