"Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent" Children's Book by Bill Peet

"Once upon a time there was a giant sea serpent named Cyrus. To look at him he was very frightening and formidable and fearsome, but actually he was very gentle. Instead of committting horrible deeds, he wandered peacefully around the ocean; instead of wrecking ships and eating people, he nibbled on sardines."

 

"One day, however, a passing shark accuses Cyrus of being a spineless sissy, and the normally friendly sea serpent becomes so furious he decides to go out and wreck a ship at once, just to prove how rough and tough he really is. And it isn't long before he finds a ship."

 

"The sturdy little Primrose is just setting out to sea, ready to face unknown dangers -- deadly doldrums! (whatever they are ) fierce squalls! bloodthirsty pirates! Cyrus becomes so concerned that he almost forgets about his plans and decides to follow along ... just to see what happens."

 

"What does happen is a hilarious series of adventures in the highest tradition of the high seas. And in the tradition of the incomparable Bill Peet, how Cyrus and the Primrose weather a briny voyage together makes an unsinkable funny yarn."

 

48 pages. Color illustrations by Bill Peet (softcover)

Target Age:  4 to 8

Reading Level: 4.3