The Lost Sailor

by Pam Conrad, Richard Egielski (Illustrator)

A sailor famed for his seamanship and luck is shipwrecked on a tiny island, where his darkest hour gives rise to rescue and a new life.

Genres: Picture Books

80 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

Pam Conrad (1947-1996) was an author for children. Her book Our House: Stories of Levittown was a Newbery Medal finalist.

Ms. Conrad was born in New York City and graduated from the New School for Social Research.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Borrrrring! If you are going to adapt Robinson Crusoe for a children's book, at least make it interesting. In the original there were mutineers, cannibals, and pirates. Those won't be found here, however, just constant reading of maps and an occasional highlight when there's a storm or when he builds something. I'm also not sure I agree with the assessment of the sailor as "lucky", if having your house burn down turns out to save you, it should happen before most of your life passes by to be considered lucky! but it was certainly a dramatic exposition on "ironic".

The reception of this book was probably not enhanced by the fact that my daughter was groaning from a stomach bug at the time, but the good news is that it helped to put her to sleep!