The Eagle

The Lighthouse Family #3

by Cynthia Rylant, Preston McDaniels (Illustrator)

Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant brings the peaceful sounds, sights, and characters of the coast vividly to life in the third book of the Lighthouse Family series, in which the family discovers the beauty of the forest.

In a lighthouse by the ocean, Seabold, a dog, and Pandora, a cat, live with their three little mice children, Whistler, Lila, and Tiny. One day, Lila and Whistler decide they want to investigate the mysterious forest that stands near their home. What adventures could be waiting between those trees? Brother and sister ask permission to go exploring and discover not only adventure and enchantment but also a new friend!

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Animals, Juvenile, Picture Books

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Cynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last book in this series was a little too cozy and gentle for me, and this one is almost the same, but I liked the avuncular eagle sticking his beak in just the right amount as the two young mice have an orienteering adventure in the woods.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is charming! A dog, a cat, and three little mice live together as family in a lighthouse. One day the mice ask their parents permission to go for a walk in the woods. Unfortunately they get lost but they meet an eagle who becomes their new friend and shows them the way home. This astounds me! All these animals are supposed to be enemies. Will a child even pick up the hidden message of living in peace with others or will it be just considered a cute story? Nevertheless it is a fine, little book for children.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite so far. This is the shortest book I think and its about an eagle helping the mice find their way home. It was fine.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

We appreciated the mice children's ability to work with their guardians to learn the skills they would need for the adventure they were seeking! Much better than the typical "it's too dangerous to go" with children sneaking off. We also appreciated the Eagle's instinct to give the children some time to sort their predicament out on their own.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine, nothing special! The last of this series that we own. My almost 6 year old likes them.

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating by 7 year old

[Maryanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that the adults let the children puzzle out their own problems. SPOILER ALERT: The whole time the mouse children were alone with the eagle, the section of Avi's book, Poppy, in which a raptor swoops down and devours a mouse is quite vividly described kept running through my mind. This story has a much kinder ending. Love the line: "Seabold (the *dad*) understood mistakes."

[Jane Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this third book of the Lighthouse Family series. Especially enjoyed the respectful way the children asked to do what had previously been forbidden, rather than disobeying in their eagerness, and their willingness to learn what was necessary to do so. Enchanted by this little early chapter book series.

[Mary T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first two in the series, but I didn't care for this one as much. I wonder if we would like them more if we read them closer together.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a book whose title doesn't really reveal much while it is the cover that shows a bit more promise. Since there are two little mice on it in clothes and a rather seemingly condescending eagle, which again like the cover doesn't say much.

Furthermore there is nothing on the cover or cover page that really says this book is part of a series although the other titles page suggests it. Due to I haven't read the other two books in the series I cannot say how well this book stands alone from the previous titles but it did seem like the starting portion of this book was trying to introduce as well as the give unknown readers an update so they at least understand how this strange family came together.

The Eagle is a portal book for slightly older children who are ready to start exploring the world of chapter books. As such even though there are six chapters they are rather short and each is started off with a two-page spread illustration. There are also plenty of pages tucked between the chapter pages that were full illustrations to offset the pages of words.

The tone for the writing was to me actually quite dull and stilted, especially at the beginning. Easy words again will help growing readers to be able to read this book on this own with a few spots of interest such as binnacle, which will need to be looked up for them to understand what it means.

For me the characters were actually flat and I don't know if this is since they may have been better developed one or two books ago but it assured that I couldn't actually relate with any. I did love the name for the dog - Old Seabold. Was the author trying to encourage older readers to pick-up the fact of the slang the old salty dog for this particular past sea dog?

Meanwhile the illustrations were midway for me. They seemed to be given in a red sepia tone but that didn't take away from there. Where the illustration was based on natural background they definitely hit on the mark and were beautiful to me but when it came to the characters I was a bit disappointed so they were hit or miss. And how is that one can make a cat look so jowly even for an older creature.

What I did love about the book was the characters making up the family were so uniquely different from each other thus suggesting a rather mixed family such as one would see when it came to foster or adoptive homes. And I did love the inclusion of the fairy ring that the children were so lucky to have found in the woods.

But what I really did not enjoy were the weird messages that the book gave off. The first one was more or less about the mushrooms as Lila mentioned they could be taken home and made into food. i am not sure how many younger children are introduced by their adult caregivers into mushrooms and the possibility that they may be toxic so unless they can be properly identified picking strange mushrooms out in the middle of the forest would not be a highly recommended activity.

And finally the other off message for was the fact of the children getting lost and actually meeting the eagle. I am not sure whether a strange creature sitting there watching you without your knowledge and not helping you when you are lost is more bothersome or the fact that said stranger also chose not to help you so you could be given a chance to learn to help yourself while possibly also learning how to trust your instincts in a place where you have never been before. Plus the fact the eagle picked up said kids without their permission or their caregivers to carry them to the top of the tallest tree in the woods just is a bit on alarming side. Maybe I am blowing everything way out of proportion and he was really a chivalrous eagle so I am just seeing the bad in it.

When it comes down to it the book does seem a bit charming besides its dark points and more than likely would have been something I read when I was younger. But at this age the book doesn't do anything besides raise my hackles.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gentle adventure for Lila and her brother Whistler. They've always wanted to go to the woods. Pandora and Seabold are too busy to take them, so they learn to use a compass so they won't get lost.
They've also always wanted to make friends with a beautiful Eagle they often see flying around. Fortunately for them, he has his eye on our little friends too--and not in the way predatory birds usually see mice! I'm glad that in Rylant's world, all strangers are good, kind and decent.

I wish Rylant would write a little adventure for Tiny. Okay, she's probably too small to get up to much but you'd be surprised what the little ones think. Again I would suggest investing in the hardback edition; I have the paperback and the drawings are almost too faint to see.

[Sonia Schoenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little mice Whistler and Lila go exploring in the woods with Seabold's compass. When Whistler loses the compass his instincts help the mice find their way out of the woods to the shore, but which way is home? A compassionate eagle gives them a ride back home to the lighthouse.

I've decided the reason I love these books so much is that they remind me of what I love most about Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher: unrelated characters come together in relationships that affirm, encourage, and nurture. And the pastel illustrations are quite endearing.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we read through this series, the urge to book a trip to visit a rural lighthouse grows stronger. I love the personalities of the characters of the lighthouse family. So endearing. I will say, however, that I am relieved with every book that my 5-year-olds don’t know much about the food chain at this point in their young lives, especially as the young mice children encounter a hige eagle while alone in the woods.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if this entry was not quite as good as the last or if I am getting tired of this sweet, low-key series. I still liked it, but it was a tiny bit less sweet and the "intentionally let youngsters try to overcome the challenge on their own first" theme messed up the minimal excitement there was for me. Nevertheless, it is such a quick read I still plan to read at least the next one.

[Octavia B. Sithole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little tale

This is such a cute story for kids. The plot and the setting are simple and easy to follow even for children that are reading by themselves without the help of a parent.

[Allison Hibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short lil' gem of a chapter book was read in a single sitting to my rapt daughters. It really caught their imagination and has been influencing their play all day! The writing is rich, and it is sweet without being saccharine.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘“Seabold will be so disappointed in me.” “Seabold is never disappointed in us,” said Lila. It was true. Seabold understood mistakes.’
😭🥹😩😮‍💨

Welp, Cynthia Rylant is helping me be a better mom or at least envision one.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun series for early readers.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read-aloud book for children just getting into chapter books.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite of the series thus far. Even H seems indifferent.

[Two Hearts Homeschool · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the premise and the characters but it was just too short with no depth and build up of drama.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, old-fashioned story with animals as the characters. 3.5 stars.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet animal adventure story, third in the series.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but I found this one far less charming than the first in the series.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

These short chapters books are very sweet and teach good values without being heavy-handed.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to be a sweet, refreshing time with my third-born.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just adore this series. It is amazing to me that in an "early chapter" book the author has created books with real, suspenseful, but not frightening plots. The main characters, two little mice long for adventure, something I think will appeal to preschoolers and early grade school-aged readers. Lovely characters, gorgeous illustrations. This is the third in the series. Can't wait to read the next one with our youngest.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 2-4 58 pgs


Fantasy, mice. Mice siblings Lila and Whistler are eager to have their very own adventure in the woods near their lighthouse home. Pandora the Cat and Seabold the dog, with whom they live, gives them a compass and makes them promise to be home in time for lunch. When the compass is lost and the mice wander off the path, Lila and Whistler must find some way of finding their way back home.

Cute story! Part of a series "Lighthouse Family"

[Bianca! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stanley the Eagle helps the Lighthouse Family children, Whistler and Lila (they are mice,) in this story. Who ever thought that an Eagle can take care of mice without eating them?! And to let you know I studied Eagles in First Grade and they can eat a small sheep or a smaller animal if they want to!