The Wreck of the Zephyr facts for kids
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| Author | Chris Van Allsburg |
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| Illustrator | Chris Van Allsburg |
| Cover artist | Chris Van Allsburg |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's, fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
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Publication date
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1983 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 31 |
| ISBN | 978-1849395434 |
| Preceded by | Ben's Dream |
| Followed by | The Mysteries of Harris Burdick |
The Wreck of the Zephyr is a children's book. It was written and illustrated by the American author Chris Van Allsburg. The book was first published in March 1983 by Houghton Mifflin. It tells a magical story about a young sailor and a mysterious island.
Contents
The Story of the Zephyr
The book begins with a narrator exploring a clifftop by the sea. They find an old, wrecked wooden sailboat far from the water. An old man sits nearby. The narrator asks him how the boat got there.
A Talented Young Sailor
The old man starts to tell a story from long ago. It's about a young boy who was the best sailor in the harbor. He loved to show off his skills. He would try daring tricks that even grown-up sailors wouldn't attempt.
Sailing into a Storm
One day, a big storm was coming. An old fisherman warned the boy not to go out. But the boy didn't listen. He sailed his boat, the Zephyr, out of the harbor. A huge gust of wind hit the boat. Strong waves knocked the boy unconscious.
A Strange Discovery
When the boy woke up, he was on a strange beach. His boat, the Zephyr, was also there, far from the water. He searched for help. After a long walk, he reached the top of a hill. From there, he saw something amazing. The Zephyr was being pulled by two boats floating through the air! He watched as these strange flying boats put the Zephyr back into the harbor.
Learning to Fly a Boat
Back in the harbor, the boy met a fisherman. The fisherman was surprised to see him. He explained that no one visited their island because of dangerous reefs. He offered to take the boy home. But the boy refused. He wanted to learn how to sail his boat above the waves.
The fisherman gave the boy special sails for the Zephyr. He spent all day trying to teach the boy. But the boy kept failing. Finally, the fisherman gave up and took the boy home for dinner.
A Secret Night Flight
After the fisherman and his wife were asleep, the boy snuck out. He went back to the Zephyr for another try. This time, he succeeded! Under the bright full moon, the boy sailed out of the harbor. He set a course for his own village.
The Crash of the Zephyr
As he got close to his village, the boy had an idea. He wanted to ring the high church bell. This would show everyone that he truly was the greatest sailor ever. But just as he flew over the church steeple, the wind stopped. The Zephyr fell quickly. The boy tried to get back to the safety of the harbor. But he couldn't make it. The Zephyr crashed into the cliff, breaking into pieces. The boy also badly broke his leg.
The Old Man's Secret
The old man finished his story. He said that the townspeople never believed the boy. The boy spent his life doing small jobs. He also kept searching for the mysterious island. The old man then commented that the breeze looked perfect for a sail. He limped away toward the harbor. This made the narrator wonder if the old man was the boy from the story.
Find Fritz
In all of Chris Van Allsburg's books, there's a hidden character: Fritz the Dog. You can find him in The Wreck of the Zephyr on page nine. He is standing near the fisherman who warns the boy about the storm.
