Kindness and comfort once again characterize a chapter-book story in the Lighthouse Family series. McDaniels' soft-toned, pastel-and-pencil pictures show Pandora, the gentle mother cat, in her old-fashioned costume; Sebold, the crusty father dog; and the two mice orphans, Lila and Whistler, in total bliss. In this episode, the warmth and safety of their loving home gives the mice freedom to go on a small adventure and make a friend. At the shore, they meet Cleo, a polite, shy child octopus, who saves Lila when she becomes stuck in the wet sand. The next day Cleo brings his parents to tea at the lighthouse. Rylant has that rare power to write about happiness without being overly sentimental; yes, this is a bit mushy, but young readers will long for such a family.

In the continuing saga of the keepers of a lighthouse--an unusual family of a cat, a dog, and three mice-children--the children explore at low tide and meet an octopus. Lila's foot gets stuck in the drying sand, and the octopus quickly frees her. The soft graphite illustrations add atmosphere, but this quiet fantasy lacks real tension.