So many times at the public library parents would ask me for chapter books that were similar to the classics but devoid of some of the difficult content that comes along with classics (like racism, sexism, all the other isms we try to avoid with our itty bitty children). They wanted gentle tales with challenging vocabulary but nothing violent or scary or overly sad. And every time I gave them The Lighthouse Family. It doesn't get better than this.

The peril is mild and when the children (some orphaned mice who have been adopted by a sweet cat lighthouse-keeper and her sea-loving dog companion) face a difficult situation THEY GO TO THE GROWUPS FOR HELP. This is SUCH an important thing to read in a children's book when you're dealing with preschoolers. And then the adults are kind and wonderful and they trust the children to do what's right and have an adventure. All comes out well in the end.

Seriously, I want to shake Cynthia Rylant's hand. ( )

A pleasant story about friendship regardless of the type of animal you are or the type of animal in need. We can all get along and help each other out.

The Whale is the second in The Lighthouse Family series about an unlikely family (cat, dog, and three orphaned mice children) who live in a windswept but cozy lighthouse. In this book, the family finds a baby whale that got separated from his mother. They enlist the help of a curmudgeonly comorant to find the mother and reunite the two. Full of Ms. Rylant’s trademark sweetness and humor.

Curriculum: this book could be discussed as part of a primary social studies lesson about communities. What are some ways that members of a communitiy can help each other? What are ways members of a community depend on one another?

Rylant, C. & McDaniels, P. (2003). The whale. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.