The Lighthouse Cat

My 4 year old grandson loved the book. He learned a lot about lighthouses through a cute story. He became intrigued with light houses after reading this one and asked to read it over and over.

Being a lighthouse keeper is a lonely job that requires much dedication. Each night the lighthouse keeper climbs up, up, up the stairs to light the twenty four candles in the lighthouse beacon. Each morning he climbs the stairs again to extinguish the candles and perform the daily maintenance that keeps the light visible to passing ships. One afternoon, the supply ship arrives with groceries for the lighthouse keeper. In addition to the usual food and supplies, the supply ship is also carrying a stowaway: a small silver cat. The keeper names the cat Mackeral and the cat becomes a steadfast companion to the lighthouse keeper. Mackeral has many adventures on the island. He makes friends with puffins and seagulls, helps the keeper collect driftwood that is used to make furniture, finds a message in a bottle and scans the sea for passing ships. During a very stormy night, wind extinguishes the candles in the lighthouse tower. The keeper tries to signal passing ships with a hand lantern, but the wind blows that out as well. Seeing this, Mackeral springs into action. He climbs to the top of the lighthouse tower and meows loudly. Eleven cats from nearby homes answer his call and join him in the lighthouse. Moonlight is reflected in the cats' eyes so that there are twenty four small glowing lights in the lantern room and ships can safely navigate to port. Colorful illustrations and the repetitive language ("Up, up, up") will make this book a read aloud favorite. The lighthouse featured in The Lighthouse Cat was inspired by Smeaton's Tower, which stood for over 100 years just south of Plymouth, England. The lighthouse was lit by twenty four large candles.

This book has beautiful illustrations, lots of alliteration which makes it fun to read, and an interesting story line with a twist at the end. I'm glad we added it to our home library.

A nice child's book with good illustrations and an orginal story. author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

Several years ago, a Chinese friend asked me if my cats' eyes glowed in the dark. At the time, I laughed and replied that it would be like the Blackpool illuminations in my bedroom each night if they did. I was therefore amused by the lighthouse being lit up by the eyes of 12 assembled cats to save a fishboat from being dashed against the rocks. This is a very original story and well written. Sue Stainton creates a detailed image of the lighthouse and its environment which is further complimented and given life by Anne Mortimer's delightful illustrations. From experience, I feel that tabby cats are one of the hardest varieties of cats to paint but she always does it perfectly and Mackerel looks real enough to stroke. Setting the story in a real village and real lighthouse also makes the story more special. Well done to both writer and artist for a winning picture book!

Mackerel and his two-legged friend, the lighthouse keeper, reside in an old lighthouse, where a twenty-four-candle lantern is lit, directing ships away from the rocks. Mackerel clims up, up, up with his beloved owner every day, to spend time watching over the sea at night, and in the day, the two head down, down, down, to eat and play. However, on one stormy night, the rapid, howling wind blows out all of the candles in the lighthouse, and a small fishing boat is lost in the sea, without any light to direct him. Mackerel summons eleven of his feline friends, and soon, twenty-four yellow lights appear, flashing left and right, that guide the small fishing boat away from danger. THE LIGHTHOUSE CAT is a lovely book that will be cherished by all, young and old. The illustrations are utterly remarkable, and the story is beautiful. The lovely prose will have readers of all ages itching to read this book again and again, while cat readers will be racing out to purchase their very own copy of THE LIGHTHOUSE CAT. A must read! Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper