"The Storm (The Lighthouse Family, Book 1)" Cynthia Rylant - 2002 (First Edition)
 
Living alone by the shore can be a peaceful life, but it can also get incredibly lonely. Pandora, a patient and kindhearted cat, spends her days tending to a lighthouse all by herself. Meanwhile, Seabold, an adventurous dog, spends his life sailing the open ocean alone on his boat. Neither of them expected their quiet lives to change until a massive, violent winter storm destroys Seabold’s boat and washes him ashore right near Pandora's beacon. Pandora rescues him, nursing him back to health over the long winter months, and a deep, comforting friendship blossoms between them as they share stories of their pasts.
 
As the seasons warm into spring and summer, they realize how much happier the lighthouse feels now that they are sharing it. However, as autumn approaches, Seabold begins repairing his boat to return to his seafaring adventures, leaving Pandora with a quiet sadness in her heart. Before he can depart, another fierce storm hits the coast, blowing a tiny, fragile vessel directly into the dangerous waves. Working together, the cat and dog pull off a daring rescue to save its three tiny passengers—a group of orphaned baby mice. Taking the babies in and nursing them back to health, Pandora and Seabold realize they don't want to say goodbye to their new life, discovering that family isn't just about who you are born with, but the people you choose to care for and protect.
 
 
Collation / Page Count: Complete