Heroes of Isle Aux Morts

My kids and I love this book, not only because this true story is exciting and inspiring, but also because our own ancestors were on the rescued ship, the Despatch! This story was recorded in handwritten notes in our family archives, and it was wonderful to see it captured so well in print by this author and illustrator. I've brought the book in to read at my childrens' school and it easily captures the attention of the class. It's inspiring to hear stories of ordinary people (and animals!) exhibiting courage and a can-do attitude, and doing extraordinary things.

The illustrations in this book are superb. The story of the rescue of the passengers of the Despatch by a Newfoundland dog are so vivid due to the bold, colorful pictures. My older daughter loved another Newfoundland dog rescue book called "The Wreck of the Ethie" & my 6 yr.old loved the pictures in this book. What fun to read & enjoy such exciting stories w/ my children!

Isle aux Morts means "Island of the Dead" and was thus named because of the number of ships and lives lost near its shores. One early morning in June, 1832, Anne Harvey was awakened by two familiar sounds: the howling wind of a storm and the distress call from a ship offshore. The pounding waves prevented Anne's family from approaching the ship in their small boat. The only hope was to send their dog Hairy Man into the sea with a rope. Hairy Man was a strong swimmer and reached the ship safely. Using a breeches buoy the Harveys were able to rescue 163 passengers, one-by- one, from the sinking ship. Splendidly illustrated in a 19th century evoking style by Geoff Butler, Alice Walsh's Heroes Of Isle Aux Morts is a vivid, engaging, and highly recommended retelling of a true story for young readers ages 8-11.