Ghost Cat

by Eve Bunting, Kevin M. Barry (Illustrator)

Miss Maggie McCullen has been the keeper for the Port Carrick lighthouse for many years. She has never missed a night, keeping the big light going. And while the people in Port Carrick are grateful to her, they worry about her lonely life at the lighthouse. But they don't know that she has her cat, Sailor Boy, for company. Because Sailor Boy is no ordinary cat. He's a ghost cat. He can make himself visible or invisible, especially when visitors come to call and he wants to be mischievous. But when a fierce storm comes and Miss Maggie needs special assistance, Sailor Boy proves his worth.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Animals, Ghosts, Fiction, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2017

About the author

Also known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.

Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.

Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.

In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love lighthouses and I love a good ghost story and I especially love how well the two go together. So when I ran across the picture book Ghost Cat by Eve Bunting with illustrations by Kevin M. Barry while doing some shelving in our children’s department (shoutout to libraries), I couldn’t resist.

Set off the coast of Ireland, Miss Maggie McCullen keeps the lighthouse shining every night. The people in town worry she is lonely but what they don’t know is that after her cat, Sailor Boy, passed away he returned as a ghost out of his love for Miss Maggie and the lighthouse. It is a cute story of their life together in the lighthouse with the cat frightening tourists and keeping the light lit, but when Maggie breaks her leg on the steps one night during a storm it is up to Sailor Boy to save the day.

There is a fascinating history behind women Lighthouse keepers. In the US it was one of the first non-clerical government jobs for which women were allowed to hold the post. While the head keeper was often listed as a man, it was typically the wives who actually did the labor (yep…) and would often remain solitary in the post after the man had passed. I like how this book pays tribute to women Lighthouse keepers and does so in a fun way with a ghost cat to appeal to young readers. Perhaps having the cat be a girl would have been better to highlight that it was women doing work that men were often credited for but whatever.

I like the art in this one too. It’s nice and eerie and moody for the ghostly lighthouse theme. The giant round eyes on all the people is occasionally a big unsettling but it’s a ghost story so I suppose that fits (the people are rather creepy though). It’s a cute little story and a nice little tribute to the hard, lonely, but important work of lighthouse keepers.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the cover in the library and I needed to check this out. I didn't notice it was Eve Bunting. I stumble across her work often. I did enjoy this tale. It's not necessarily Halloween, but it's the season of ghosts so it works.

I thought the art was great, lots of mood and tone. I did enjoy the story. While I think having pets is wonderful, I don't understand why the lighthouse owner wouldn't go out and get a new cat for the lighthouse to keep her company instead of keeping the ghost cat alone. I guess that is neither her or there. It was a little funny to see visitors react to the ghost cat.

The setting is a lighthouse and I can only assume this was in the past since they are fully automated now. It must have been over a 100 years ago as they light the wick with matches which seems iffy during storms. Ghost cat does rescue the owner. She falls on the stairs and Ghost cat is able to show someone else how to light the beacon.

The kids thought this was a spooky story. The nephew had fun reading this story. The niece thought it was ok. It might have scared her just a little. They both gave it 3 stars for varying reasons.

[Manybooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please do note that my one star ranking for Eve Bunting's Ghost Cat has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL to do with either her narrative or with Kevin M. Barry's accompanying illustrations, but ONLY with the fact that the Kindle format on which I had to read Ghost Cat (as it is only available as an e-book at my local library) is totally and utterly substandard and as such completely unacceptable. For while Kevin M. Barry's illustrations (albeit quite small and sometimes also a trifle blurry on the Kindle) are at least still aesthetically enchanting and visually discernible enough, I basically could hardly even read Eve Bunting's text (and this even with my brand new and very strong reading glasses, as well as a strong magnifying glass, and for some supremely stupid and incomprehensible reason, there is not even a way to zoom in, to enlarge the minuscule, the tiny font sizes of Ghost Cat as an e-book).

And while I did manage to somewhat and vaguely figure out the main gist of Bunting's featured storyline (seemingly a rather standard tale of a lighthouse keeper in peril and a little girl helping out her injured aunt, getting the lighthouse lamp lit so that ships would be safe from peril on the rocks, and of course with the help of the lighthouse keeper's ghost cat, who can obviously make himself visible or invisible at will) and while yes, I have indeed managed to visually enjoy Kevin M. Barry's artwork (although how small the pictures are on the Kindle is definitely a bit frustrating, but not nearly as much as the fact that I basically could hardly read Eve Bunting's printed words with any kind of ease at all), sorry, but there is absolutely NO WAY that I am going to be ranking the Kindle edition of Ghost Cat with more than one star, as I am getting totally and utterly annoyed at how many picture book Kindle transfers are so utterly subpar and lacking that they should in my humble opinion not even be published as e-books.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sailor Boy, the eponymous ghostly cat of this sweet picture-book adventure, narrates the story of his life and afterlife with Miss Maggie McCullen, the faithful keeper of the Port Carrick Lighthouse. Miss Maggie's companion in life, Sailor Boy stuck around afterward, no less loving and no less mischievous. Visible only when he chose, he enjoyed playing tricks on some of Miss Maggie's visitors. But when Miss Maggie had an accident, climbing the steps to the great light, Sailor Boy was all business, getting help from Miss Maggie's niece, and aiding her in getting the all-important light going...

Apparently the topic of lighthouse cats is a fairly popular one in the world of picture-books, to judge from such titles as Ruth Brown's Gracie, The Lighthouse Cat and Sue Stainton's The Lighthouse Cat . Eve Bunting's Ghost Cat takes young readers' fascinationg with lighthouses and their love of cats, and adds another dimension: ghosts. I found her story here sweet, but not particularly original or gripping. The artwork from Kevin Barry, on the other hand, was adorable, and really made Ghost Cat a pleasure to peruse. Sailor Boy himself is winsome, if a little wispy, and Barry captures wil feline charm quite well. Recommended to young cat lovers, and to children who enjoy stories about lighthouses and lighthouse-keepers.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations, but a little dramatic!

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book! I just loved it! I read this book at the library but need this book for my Halloween Forever Shelf! Would love to see more books with Sailor Boy! Definitely recommend this book to kids of all ages especially around the Autumn/Halloween season!

[Scott Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This always makes me sad, but in a good way. And happy in a sad way. Idk, lol. I just love cats, and it makes me think of all the cats I have had who are deceased.

[Brok3n · Rating 4 out of 5]

You may die of The Cute

Take a look at the cover. It really tells you everything you need to know.

That is Sailor Boy. He's a lighthouse cat, who died, but decided to hang around anyway. As ghosts go, Sailor Boy is very capable -- he can make himself visible or invisible. His mistress, Miss Maggie McCullen, is the lighthouse keeper, and she knows all about Sailor Boy. There's a story here, in which Sailor Boy saves the day (or, more accurately, the night). The drawings are entirely adorable.

I read this on an iPad using the kindle app. This worked well. I would not recommend a kindle paperwhite -- you need color to appreciate it. The eBook is well-designed. You can zoom in on parts of a page and move easily from one zoomed view to the next.

Blog review.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am very perplexed as to where to place this picture book. It is not an ordinary cat story. It is rather text heavy for a picture book. A cat as a ghost who can materialize? A young girl crossing a stormy sea in a rowboat to a lighthouse? Hmm, I would have preferred a cat that was hard to find pretending to be a ghost.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any story involving a lighthouse is right up my alley. And a cat (even a ghost cat) — makes it even more Purr-fect! Love Eve Bunting’s story telling ability and the illustrations of Kevin Barry are great. I’m going to search for more of his work.

[Christine (Tina) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations are phenomenal & story line mixes informative & imaginative. Great little spooky read for this time of year.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Maggie McCullen has been a lighthouse keeper for years. She diligently keeps the light burning. She lives with her ghost cat, Sailor Boy. Sailor Boy had been her cat until he died, and then he decided to stick around. He knows Miss Maggie's routine and knows exactly how to light the lighthouse. One stormy night, Miss Maggie is injured and can't light the lamp. Lives are in danger. Can Ghost Cat save the day?

The illustrations are just as lovely as the story.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I might not enjoy Eve Bunting's lighter books as much as the ones that deal with very heavy topics, her talents as a storyteller are never to be questioned as she demonstrates once again here in a sweet ghost story. In this nostalgic account featuring lighthouses, once maintained by humans in a labor intensive way, Maggie McCullen is the longtime keeper of the lighthouse for Port Carrick. She is accompanied by her cat Sailor Boy, who follows her on her rounds and makes sure she has someone with whom to share her life. Even though the two of them are close, Sailor Boy is a ghost that has decided to stay with his mistress and sometimes tease the lighthouse visitors. When her niece Cissie comes for a visit and must stay due to an approaching storm, Cissie and Sailor Boy must take charge of lighting the lighthouse when Maggie injures herself and cannot climb the stairs. I'm certain many youngsters will enjoy reading this story and considering what it might be like to have a spirit cat as a companion. The illustrations are filled with movement and interesting facial expressions, but the illustrator has taken pains not to make Sailor Boy seem frightening in any way. There's even an Author's Note providing background information about lighthouse keepers. In a world where it seems that everyone wants to be like everyone else, I appreciated Sailor Moon's delight in being extraordinary and supernatural.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story with beautiful illustrations. Long for a picture book, which I don't mind if everything adds to the story, but there were two spreads about visitors to the lighthouse that really didn't add anything and just confused me (why does a ghost cat get hurt? It's a ghost). The purpose of the book was to educate readers about lighthouses, and so the story felt contrived. I like the idea of a ghost cat, and his character was well developed, but it felt like the author really wanted the lighthouse to be the main character. I also felt there were classic examples of telling not showing. For instance, the first two lines, "I am a cat. A ghost cat." could have been left out to just start at "My name is Sailor Boy." Same with when he says, "I can be visible or invisible..." We'll see that, don't bother telling us. As a result, the story is slow to start. It's a lot of backstory before we get to the action. The last two sentences also seem to be tacked on to provide a moral. I think, "Sometimes he just likes to disappear," would have been a stronger ending. I do however appreciate the way the details of lighthouse life are woven into the story such as the climbing of the 50 steps, etc.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve Bunting is a masterful storyteller and this story is a great example. This awesome picture book tells the story of a lighthouse keeper and her cat. The cat is no longer living, but has decided to stay with his friend as a ghost to keep her from getting lonely. The lighthouse keeper has a crucial job: keeping the light going so that boats won't crash on the rocks in the dark or in bad weather. When a catastrophe occurs, it's up to Sailor Boy, the ghost cat, to make sure that everything turns out all right. Beautiful illustrations and an engaging narrative style make this a great book to have in any classroom library.

[Jami Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like cats. I like lighthouses. I especially like charmingly illustrated ghost stories about cats *and* lighthouses.

Note: That may sound like the lighthouse was a ghost but it was just a normal building. I'd read a story about ghostly lighthouses, to be honest.

Ghost Cat is written from the cat's perspective.

"Miss Maggie pets me. 'You could run this lighthouse by yourself, Sailor Boy. You're one smart cat.'
"I know."

Ha!

"I take a minute to comfort my friend, laying my face against hers." - The illustration that accompanies this sentence is heartwarming. My cats and I share headbonks, too. *sniffle*

[Kya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big cat person, a fan of things abnormal, an appreciator of picture books. As one can imagine, I loved this illustrated book about a ghost cat! While the illustrations were not quite full bleed, they took up large areas of the page and were done with creative undefined boarders. Little Sailor Boy was cleverly illustrated slightly translucent, to aid in demonstrating his ability to be invisible. The back of the book has some great information for a kid that might be interested in lighthouses!

[Bmack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice story about a lady named Miss Maggie McCullen and her ghost cat named Sailor Boy. They live happily together in the lighthouse and Sailor Boy will appear and disappear at will. He likes to bother guest who come to visit the lighthouse. One stormy night, when her niece was visiting, Maggie trips on the stars hurting her ankle and she can't go up and light the light. Will Sailor Boy be able to help her niece light it?

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true Eve Bunting style, this book was absolutely perfect. I wish that I had read it around Halloween because it would have been a great "spooky ghost" story for my child. *This book is not scary at all, so don't worry about your kids getting scared. A must read for all Eve Bunting book lovers!

[Marj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edward-Gorey inspired illustrations (warmed up and softened) tell the story of Sailor Boy, a ghost cat who lives with his owner in a lighthouse. It's a simple, charming story with lovely illustrations.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had beautiful art but I found the storyline a little strange for the age group.

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost cat saves the day when the light in the lighthouse must be lit.

[Lizanell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming tale about a ghostly cat and his love for his owner, the keeper of a lighthouse.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much a fall type of read but found the ghost cat, cute (if a little morbid). Beautiful illustrations and warm prose highlighting the role/dedication of the light house keeper.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, simple story about a ghostly feline who helps his human friend tend a lighthouse.

[Blanco Meyers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan of the illustrations.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story, and the illustrations are fantastic!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the artwork.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story of Miss Maggie McCullen and her faithful cat, Sailor Boy, a ghost. There are soft watercolor illustrations and the story is filled with warmth and fun.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very adorable picture book for children.