2023 - 1970’s Immersion Reading Challenge

Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent by Bill Peet (1975) 46 pages.

READING LEVEL: 4.6 AR POINTS: 0.5

What kid wouldn’t enjoy a sweet little sea serpent adventure story?

After being called a sissy by a shark, Cyrus decides to prove him wrong and makes plans to sink a ship and have a little fun with the passengers. But, when a ship full of poor people seeking their fortune come upon a few troubles at sea, Cyrus takes heart and decides to save them and even helps to fulfill their journey. ( )

Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent is a modern fantasy about a serpent who likes to lay around and be kind. However, his feelings are hurt when a shark tells him he's a wimp and he needs to be meaner. Cyrus sets of to sink a ship and prove he is fierce. However, as the boat is taking off someone yells after the ship saying they will never make it to their destination. Cyrus decides that he needs to be the one who follows the ship to assure their safe arrival. As he follows the ship they run into various problems, all of which Cyrus uses his helping personality to save the day. The boat arrives safely at it's destination and Cyrus realizes he doesn't need to be mean, being nice is better. (my full review is on Educreation)

A giant sea serpent named Cyrus wonders around the sea with no idea what to do. He went searching for something fun and exciting to do. Cyrus met a shark, who challenges him to go wreck a ship and eat the passengers. Cyrus then decides to venture out to look for a ship to wreck, he waits patiently under a dock. He over hears a man tell the people getting onto the ship that bad things will happen while they are at sea and that they will never make it. Cyrus feels sorry for the people so he decides that he will help and protect them when they go out to sea. The adventure soon begins when the ship is caught in the sea where the wind is no longer blowing, and just when the passengers on the ship think they are out of trouble, pirates show up. Cyrus crashes the pirate's ship and helps them sail away. Just when all is well, a huge storm blows the ship, Cyrus races to save them and bring them to land.

This is a wonderful book filled with charming and fun illustrations. A book that should be every child's bookshelf! Classroom extension; have students draw and create their very own mythical sea creature and then have them label the map with a legend using symbols to represent the important event that occurred at each location. ( )