The Lighthouse Cat [Hardcover]

Sue Stainton (Author), Anne Mortimer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

In an old lighthouse, where a twenty-four-candle lantern lights a sparkling blue-green sea, dwell a solitary keeper and his little companion -- a cat called Mackerel. Together the two climb up, up, up to watch over the nighttime sea and down, down, down to eat and play.

On one stormy night, the quick rush of a fierce wind darkens every candle. Soon an errant fishing boat, lost in the raging black sea, signals distress. Sure enough, it is the sudden glow of twenty-four flashing yellow lights that guide the boat away from danger. Just what could those new lights be?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–This beautifully illustrated tale is set in the past, when a lighthouse was lit with a 24-candle lantern and the keeper was responsible for trimming the wicks every half hour. Using descriptive language, Stainton tells how a lonely keeper discovers a stray cat on board the supply boat and decides to keep him. Mackerel proves to be the perfect companion for the man, helping him to watch for boats and providing company at night. When a terrible storm knocks out the lantern and the keeper is unable to re-light it, Mackerel prevents a shipwreck by summoning 11 of his feline friends; they wait for the clouds to clear and then light up the area by having the moon reflect in their eyes. The illustrations are impressive. Full-page paintings are framed by ocean-blue backgrounds, while each page of text sports a circular vignette. A border of waves decorates the bottom of each spread. When the storm hits, the waves become dark and sinister looking. The close-up renderings of the gray-coated, green-eyed cat are especially appealing. This is a great book for children to read for personal enjoyment and for teachers to share as part of a history lesson.–Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. After delving into the history of an old English lighthouse, Stainton was inspired to pen this affecting story. It tells of a lighthouse keeper whose solitary existence is disrupted when a cat turns up among the potatoes and onions in his weekly supply delivery. The cat, which he names Mackerel, earns his keep when the lighthouse's enormous 24-candle lantern is blown out by a particularly fierce storm. Mackerel leaps into action, caterwauling to alert other cats in the fishing village below. The 12 cats assemble at the top of the lighthouse, 24 glowing eyes taking the place of the extinguished candles. Though slow to start, the tale builds to a bracing climax that is sure to leave children wide-eyed and breathless. Mortimer has illustrated numerous children's books about cats, including a previous collaboration with Stainton, Santa's Snow Cats (2001). Like Stainton's text, the artwork is warm and full of wonderful detail. Terry Glover
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (July 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060096047
• ISBN-13: 978-0060096045
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous New Children's Book, September 14, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lighthouse Cat (Library Binding)

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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lighthouse Cat, April 19, 2009

By 

Ruth R. King "Bookish Ruth" (Spring City, PA , USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lighthouse Cat (Hardcover)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We really enjoyed this book, September 6, 2008

By 

Michele S "Mom of 6" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lighthouse Cat (Hardcover)

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.