The Animal Lighthouse

Anthony Burt puts a refreshing spin on the adventure island story in his debut children’s novel. Our hero Jim (of course), was washed up on a tropical island in a barrel of rum as a baby and has grown up there under the care of the island’s animals. It’s no ordinary island though, and the animals are distinctly unusual too from Oskar the wise old orangutan, to Rafi the greedy raccoon and Maximus the millipede. They can speak to Jim, and they all have jobs to do maintaining the island’s lighthouse which not only keeps ships off the rocks but magically hides their home from prying eyes. The island’s inhabitants have their work cut out for them however when unscrupulous pirates arrive. There’s a reward out for Jim’s recovery and they’re determined to take him away, by fair means or foul. Despite the temptation of finding out more about his human family, Jim decides to stay with the animals and who can blame him as you couldn’t ask for a kinder, more tolerant, and supportive family. It makes for perfect escapist summer reading – great illustrations by Ciara Flood too.