- based on a true story (with fictional elements) of the Great Lakes schooner “Rouse Simmons”
- a grandfather tells the story of a shipwreck to his grandchildren
- convo: deaths*
- clean languages
Type: historical fiction picture book
Ages: 4-8
Author: Carol Crane
Illustrator: Chris Ellison
*The text says, “Then the schooner slowly slipped beneath the churning lake. Lost were the captain and his crew, this Christmas Ship heartbreak.”
If you’re looking for a unique addition to your Christmas collection, here’s an idea for you. There’s the somber moment of the entire crew dying, but it’s followed with hope and a happy ending. Each parent should consider whether their child is ready for the sad part.
It also takes place at a beautiful lighthouse, where the children live with their grandparents–the grandpa being the official keeper. There are cozy Christmas scenes depicted and Christmas scents described!
Overall, it’s an interesting part of our country’s history–especially for those who live in Wisconsin, Michigan or Illinois!