What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Bright #1
Captain January
This is the story of Star Bright, who is rescued by Captain January (a former seaman who is now a New England lighthouse keeper) after her parents are drowned in a shipwreck.
88 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1890
2 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards
284 books19 followersLaura Elizabeth Howe Richards (27 February, 1850 – 14 January, 1943) was an American writer. She often published as Laura E. Richards & wrote more than 90 books including biographies, poetry, and several for children.
Her father was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, an abolitionist and the founder of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. She was named after his famous deaf-blind pupil Laura Bridgman. Her mother Julia Ward Howe wrote the words to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".
Her father was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, an abolitionist and the founder of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. She was named after his famous deaf-blind pupil Laura Bridgman. Her mother Julia Ward Howe wrote the words to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 14, 2015
I chose this book to fulfill a task in a challenge where I need to read books with the names of the months as part of the title. I had no idea when I saw the title on Gutenberg that this apparently small book was going to be so grand in scope. I could have finished it in a few hours, it is only 88 pages long, but it deserved dawdling.
Captain January lives alone on a lighthouse island. During a terrible storm one year, he rescues a baby from a shipwreck and names her Star Bright. The story takes place when Star is ten and Captain January is over seventy. We learn a bit about Captain January's pre-lighthouse days, the tale of the rescue, and the way Captain January asked the minister on the mainland to give him a couple of books in order to teach Star to read when she was old enough. He received a Bible, a big book of Shakespeare, and a dictionary. Neither Star nor the Captain liked the dictionary....it was cute to see them quoting Shakespeare one minute and scowling about the hated dictionary the next.
For me, the Captain was the most intriguing character: a simple but wise man with a heart of gold. Star herself seemed a bit shallowly portrayed, but of course she was only 10. I was shocked at her temper tantrums, though. And since I learned right before I started reading that this had been made into a Shirley Temple movie in 1936, it was hard to picture cute little Shirley pitching the kinds of fits that Star did in two very dramatic moments of the story. Someday I'll have to find the movie and see how closely it follows the book....it would be a shame if anything about it was changed.
This book was a delightful surprise, and a wonderful way to start my reading for 2015.
Captain January lives alone on a lighthouse island. During a terrible storm one year, he rescues a baby from a shipwreck and names her Star Bright. The story takes place when Star is ten and Captain January is over seventy. We learn a bit about Captain January's pre-lighthouse days, the tale of the rescue, and the way Captain January asked the minister on the mainland to give him a couple of books in order to teach Star to read when she was old enough. He received a Bible, a big book of Shakespeare, and a dictionary. Neither Star nor the Captain liked the dictionary....it was cute to see them quoting Shakespeare one minute and scowling about the hated dictionary the next.
For me, the Captain was the most intriguing character: a simple but wise man with a heart of gold. Star herself seemed a bit shallowly portrayed, but of course she was only 10. I was shocked at her temper tantrums, though. And since I learned right before I started reading that this had been made into a Shirley Temple movie in 1936, it was hard to picture cute little Shirley pitching the kinds of fits that Star did in two very dramatic moments of the story. Someday I'll have to find the movie and see how closely it follows the book....it would be a shame if anything about it was changed.
This book was a delightful surprise, and a wonderful way to start my reading for 2015.
August 31, 2024
Oh, I loved this book so much!
On my quest to read more middle grade books with lighthouse themes, I came across this one on Etsy. Taking a chance, I found a lovely vintage edition with a dust jacket (my favorite!) and read it as soon as it arrived.
Not only is this slim book beautifully illustrated (if only there were more!), but the story is so charming, touching and full of love. The relationship between Captain January and Star Bright must be read to appreciate its sweet message.
Although it was a little challenging at first to get used to the Maine pirate-y language of Captain January, I got the hang of it after a while. I believe it was a wee bit overdone, but it was amusing and fit with the book.
The detailed and cozy descriptions of the home, clothing and food were also perfect. I immediately bought the sequel, called Star Bright and I only hope it's as good as this one!
NOTE: There is one offensive word in the book that I skimmed over, but otherwise it was wonderful.
On my quest to read more middle grade books with lighthouse themes, I came across this one on Etsy. Taking a chance, I found a lovely vintage edition with a dust jacket (my favorite!) and read it as soon as it arrived.
Not only is this slim book beautifully illustrated (if only there were more!), but the story is so charming, touching and full of love. The relationship between Captain January and Star Bright must be read to appreciate its sweet message.
Although it was a little challenging at first to get used to the Maine pirate-y language of Captain January, I got the hang of it after a while. I believe it was a wee bit overdone, but it was amusing and fit with the book.
The detailed and cozy descriptions of the home, clothing and food were also perfect. I immediately bought the sequel, called Star Bright and I only hope it's as good as this one!
NOTE: There is one offensive word in the book that I skimmed over, but otherwise it was wonderful.
November 23, 2022
This book was just as charming and adorable as Shirley Temple’s movie version of it. I didn’t know there was a book version until a friend told me and then gifted me with this copy. I was delighted to read it and charmed by it.
Content: derogatory terms, native nudity, expletive, profanity, tobacco
Content: derogatory terms, native nudity, expletive, profanity, tobacco
June 13, 2013
This book is phenomenal. I haven't read it since I was in elementary school but I used to reread the ending every night before I went to bed. I love the accents, I love the beauty of the writing, I love how it still breaks my heart to finish it.
January 15, 2022
What a nice story!
April 28, 2024
After my grandmother died I took home a few boxes of her books. This beautiful old children's book, "Captain January" by Laura E. Richards, was one that I've taken some time with. I thought it was a charming story and I adored old Captain January and his trust in and resignation to God's will.
"I had forgotten the Lord, ye see, for all I was talkin' about him so glib. I was takin' my view and forgettin' that the Lord has His. *He* takes things by and large, and nat'rally He takes 'em larger than mortal man kin do. Amen! so be it!"
I love how Captain January decides to raise the orphan he rescued as a duty assigned him directly from the hand of God, declaring his suitability for the task with: "...I can't see that there's more than three things needed to being up a child , -- the Lord's help, common sense, and a cow."
I also love that "The child learns out o' the two best books in the world, -- the Bible and William Shakespeare's book..."
"I had forgotten the Lord, ye see, for all I was talkin' about him so glib. I was takin' my view and forgettin' that the Lord has His. *He* takes things by and large, and nat'rally He takes 'em larger than mortal man kin do. Amen! so be it!"
I love how Captain January decides to raise the orphan he rescued as a duty assigned him directly from the hand of God, declaring his suitability for the task with: "...I can't see that there's more than three things needed to being up a child , -- the Lord's help, common sense, and a cow."
I also love that "The child learns out o' the two best books in the world, -- the Bible and William Shakespeare's book..."
December 14, 2017
This is a sweet story about an old seaman raising a passionate little girl, whom he rescued as a baby when she was the only survivor of a particularly nasty shipwreck. It's an easy read at only 133 pages.
I enjoyed it because of the 19th century writing style, but found it rather similar to many books from that era. If only they weren't all about beautiful but spoiled heroines with tragic stories. Still, it's a good read.
I enjoyed it because of the 19th century writing style, but found it rather similar to many books from that era. If only they weren't all about beautiful but spoiled heroines with tragic stories. Still, it's a good read.
January 17, 2019
I have a copy of the book originally copyrighted in the late 1800s. A children’s book or is it? The writer is the daughter of Julia Ward Howe, composer of our famous “ Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
This book is a story of true family love - the best kind. What is family? Truly an important question. This book is an icon and I must find out what to do with it!
This book is a story of true family love - the best kind. What is family? Truly an important question. This book is an icon and I must find out what to do with it!
September 2, 2024
Wonderful. A 64 page delight.
I recently found it on a bookshelf that came with a Summer camp purchased by my life partner 20 years ago.
The Estes & Lauriat publishing date is 1892!
Read it in just under two hours and I am still feeling its power and emotion in my mind and heart.
Find it, silence the phone and read it in
one sitting
I recently found it on a bookshelf that came with a Summer camp purchased by my life partner 20 years ago.
The Estes & Lauriat publishing date is 1892!
Read it in just under two hours and I am still feeling its power and emotion in my mind and heart.
Find it, silence the phone and read it in
one sitting
November 2, 2023
Sweet little novella about a little girl rescued from the sea and raised by an old captain/lighthouse keeper. I believe this was made into a Shirley Temple movie—which I haven't seen yet—and I can understand why. I pictured the main character, Star, as Shirley Temple the whole way through the book.
Want to Read
September 13, 2019Read this book online for free through Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/7790/7...
March 8, 2023
I have an antique copy of this book that I just read this January. It was a simple story but touching, too. So fun to see how language and culture have changed over the years!
October 17, 2023
A nice story
March 14, 2016
This is the story the Shirley Temple movie is based on. The basic storyline is the same: crusty old lighthouse keeper finds a child in the wreckage and raises her. She is everything to him as he is to her. He is teaching her using the Bible & Shakespeare. Star is no angel, displaying fits of temper, which she soon regrets.
The novel differs in that Star is 10 and Capt. January is 70. And the ending is sad as well. There is a sequel, which doesn't seem to be available on Project Gutenberg.
The novel differs in that Star is 10 and Capt. January is 70. And the ending is sad as well. There is a sequel, which doesn't seem to be available on Project Gutenberg.
February 17, 2014
Nice book to read
November 17, 2018
"Captain January" was first made into a movie around 1924 starring Baby Peggy, and was remade in the early 1930s starring Shirley Temple. Both movies veer from the story, so I recommend reading this book to get the original tale. The author, a daughter
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews