Cynthia Preston Books

I love this book! I've already made three hats out of the book and can't wait to make more. Yes, some of the designs are down right silly, but if you are a mom you know that's exactly what kids love. My two year old twins love the cow and cat hats. I loved the fact that I could make them in a few hours. The designs are easily adaptable too. I made the acorn hat in two shades of blue for a baby shower and it was a huge hit - not your same old baby hat!

What a great book! There are so many adorable patterns, something for every skill level. They work up super quick too! These patterns will be a very sweet addition to any baby shower gift. The cotton yarn most of the patterns call for is inexpensive too, and I have found the hats I have worked up don't look "homemade" at all.

This is perfect for little ones, especially the patterns on the cover. Although I can't make them for my granddaughter yet( she is still very small), you can bet that I will be, so many cute patterns that will be enjoyed by the babies.

This book is full of hats for babies (up to 24 months) with a few accessories like slippers, mittens and a purse.
The hats are mostly "costume" hats - there's a pointy elf hat with a fuzzy chin strap that looks like a beard, there's a pink poodle hat that uses eyelash yarn to make the curly hair of the dog, a chocolate kiss using silver yarn and a sweet strawberry with a green stem.
These are not the old crocheted items your great-aunt used to make...these are cute, hip, "new" styles that are sure to get lots of compliments.

The hats featured in this book are REALLY cute and clever. Unfortunately, however, some of the pattern sizing seems wonky (even though I made gauge swatches) and some of the patterns slightly unclear. Also, there are some small details not to my liking (the drawstring tie on the kitty hat), but nothing that I couldn't figure out how to change. Irregardless, I do highly recommend the book (especially if you're looking for something "different"), as does my two-year-old daughter who will spend hours just looking at the pictures! :)

We love all of Cynthia Rylant's books and series of books, and The Lighthouse Family series is our new favorite! We are anxious to read the next book as soon as it comes out so we can know what happens to Pandora the cat, Seabold the dog and their three little mice children. Rylant uses wonderful words in her books, painting a beautiful story of words. (the illustrations in this book are beautiful too!) This is for a little older readers than her Mr. Putter and Tabby, Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, or Little Whistle series, ALL of which I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

The Storm introduces us to a new book series by Cynthis Rylant, one of my favorite children's authors. We are introduced to Seabold, a seafaring loner (and a dog), the cat Pandora, a lonely keeper of the lighthouse, and three mouse orphans. The text is melodic and never overwrought. The story is sweet, and though filled with virtue it is not moralistic. By the end of the book my son and I wanted to live with the lighthouse family, and share in their new life together. A sweet book, that I read to him, but equally appropriate for a mid-level independent reader. I would think the age group anywhere from 5-10 depending on who is doing the reading, an adult or the child herself.

The is the first book I have read my Rylant. Being a fan of lighthouses and children's books, I had to check this one out once I saw the cover. I was very impressed. The story is about 2 lonely animals,an adorable sheepdog and kitty cat, who love the sea and develop a deep friendship. They decide to tend a lighthouse together. The illustrations are some of the best I have seen in kids' books. This is definitely a cozy read for bedtime.

"The Storm" by Cynthia Rylant is one of the most joyful stories a writer could ever put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to write. Finding Preston McDaniels to illustrate is probably a sign from heaven that this book was meant to be. It is perfect. That simple: "The Storm" is perfect. Because this is a ready-for-chapters book, a beginning reader has the story to practice reading skills. As a bonus, the story is didactic in teaching that solitude comes with a price and that friendship heals loneliness. Even if the young reader does not understand these concepts on a conscious level, surely the subconscious makes that registration.

The adult cannot miss the themes of solitude and friendship and what each bring. This is one of those books that I would like to stand in the foyer of Wal-Mart and hand out to everyone who leaves. Rylant has a soft touch, a magical way with words that go straight to the heart.

In children's books animals are often the characters. Why, you may ask? Studies explain the psychological use and also why they dress as humans. The first main character is Pandora, a cat who has accepted the loneliness that goes with living in a lighthouse, but her sole purpose in life is saving ships from crashing on the rocks. Enter Seabold, a loner dog who loves to sail the seas, who finds safe harbor one stormy night in the seas near Pandora's lighthouse. A dog and a cat living in the same house is difficult at first. He is a salty, crusty old dog, she is neat and tidy, a follower of rules. Their family is made complete with the rescue of three little mice.

Think of it: how incongruous it is that three such disparate sets of persons could make a happy home, but they do. This statement may be a spoiler, but it is not. It is not the make up of the family that this story is about; rather, it is about love and acceptance and kindness and generosity of spirit. Mostly, it is about the magic of love in transforming people, in making them human.

See what I mean. This book needs to be handed out at Wal-Mart. Pay it forward, make the world better. Another of Rylant's magically worded books is "Missing May," a Newbury Award winner. "The Storm" is the first in her Lighthouse Family series. Very highly recommended!

This series is a wonderful treasure to share with your children. Read the first one first, The Storm. It introduces you to the characters and develops the story line. After that, the rest can be read out of order and they will still make sense. There are 5 books, I believe in the series.

This book in particular is really good because the mice children get lost and the eagle helps them get back. It is a good book to help you talk to your children about getting lost and what to do. It isn't too scary for young children, but it does help them understand what it means to be scared when if they were to get lost.

I highly recommend this book!!

A fast and furious ride into the inner city kept me up until midnight reading Every Secret Thing. I've been there, man, and it's for real. Ms. Preston uses some beautiful phrasing and creates some remarkable characters. I hope to see a sequel.

My 8 year old son and I have enjoyed all of the Lightouse books. They are endearing, delightful and touching. The subject matter is light, family oriented and yet keeps my son's attention. He is enamoured of all the characters and I feel confident that he will return to these books many times.

This book is a part of a wonderful series by Cynthia Rylant! I was struggling to find good read aloud chapter books to read to my girls (3 and 5) after picture books but before long books like Charlotte's Web. These are perfect for that in between time! The vocabulary is wonderful and the pictures are engaging. We read one short chapter each day. My girls woke up each morning asking to read from the books.

This book is so cool! I love it. I like that there's a baby beluga in the book, and the cat and the dog and the mice. Because they keep the baby beluga company and they help him get home.

Pandora the cat; Seabold the dog; and Whistler, Lila, and Tiny, the orphaned mice, make-up the wonderful, Lighthouse Family. Together they live amongst each other in an old Lighthouse on the water, where they help to direct ships. However, one day Whistler and Lila hear the cries of a whale, a baby beluga whale named Sebastian, to be exact. Soon they have found that poor Sebastian has lost his Mother, and doesn't know where to find her. It's now up to Whistler and Lila, with the help of the rest of the Lighthouse Family, and a cranky old cormorant named Huck, to find Sebastian's Mother, and bring mama and baby together once again.

In this wonderful, adorable new series by Cynthia Rylant, we are introduced to various wonderful new animal characters, who are sure to rival those found in classics such as THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. Each character is unique, and possesses his or her own quirks, yet they all share one thing in common, their love for each other, and caring nature. Filled with wonderful sketches by Preston McDaniels amongst almost every page, as well as a delightful plot that will please all young readers, THE WHALE is sure to be a hit.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper