The Sea Piper

In this tale of shrimping families, the writing may well rekindle an adult's love of the sea, whilst awakening a young reader's senses to its powerful rhythmic pull. Set in a time when wooden shoes and cartwheels rattle over cobbles, and days start before dawn with a splash under the pump in the yard, disaster strikes when the shrimps just disappear. A lone Piper arises on a misty shore, 'in tatters of grey and blue'. With his sweet music this Sea Piper 'leads a ribbon of gulls into nowhere' ... like the Piper of old. The resolution of the story is lyrical, magical. The soft, grainy illustrations depict the characters well, and the text runs easily. An historical book for confident young readers, and good for adults to share with children, both at home and in the group read situation.