Little Captain By Claudio Munoz

Hello there, and welcome back to Albert's Bookshelf. Now, Albert loves listening to a story. Would you like me to read one of his favourite books? Okay, well, get yourself comfy. and I'll begin. Little Captain by Claudio Munoz Aren't boats wonderful things? Lucian could watch them forever. sailing in and out of the harbour. And Grandad knew lots of stories about sailing. He had once been a sailor himself. One day at the market, Lucian

found an old model boat. Many years ago it had belonged to another child who had thrown it away once it became old and shabby. They took it home and repaired it. different it looked with its new colours and that very odd set of sails. Those were the only spare bits of material Grandma could find. Lucien was delighted and for no particular reason decided to call it the star. But what was Grandad doing? Wait Lucian, don't look yet. That evening Grandad gave Lucian a little wooden figure.

It was a handsome little captain with a black beard in a blue uniform and white cap. After Grandma and Grandad kissed him goodnight, Lucian looked closely at the little figure. It seemed to look back at him.

And that night, he held the captain tight as he snuggled down to sleep. The next day, Lucian had hardly finished his breakfast before he ran down to the river with the boat and its captain. The star sailed beautifully and Little Captain stood high on the deck. A noisy seagull appeared above them. Was it saying something to Little Captain? I don't know.

But the star turned and began to sail away following the seagull. Lucian ran along the bank and shouted, Stop! And come back! Until the boat, captain and seagull... turned a bend and he could see them no more. Down the river sailed the star and little captain, the seagull always in front. Under willow trees and bridges, past fields and quiet villages, Then the river widened and they streamed by boatyards and warehouses, big buildings and massive ships. Until they reached the open sea.

Little Captain followed the seagull towards ominous dark clouds. Astonished sailors watched them brave the storm. Then, in the distance, a lonely figure waved and shouted, adrift on her broken boat oh the disappointment when she saw it was only a toy but she never saw little captain make a dash for the cabin or disappear inside the broken radio

She never knew that he repaired it so that she could now call for help. But worst of all, she never knew that Little Captain was trapped and couldn't get out at all. Then the rescue helicopter roared overhead and the lonely sailor was lifted up to safety. Down below, her boat smashed against the cliffs. Help had come just in time. The sailor held on tightly to the star. My lucky star, she sighed. Look at poor Lucian. All day he searched the riverbank in vain.

Little Captain and the star seemed to have vanished. Grandma and Grandad tried their best to cheer him up, but it wasn't easy. They were quite sad themselves. The news that evening showed pictures of a sea rescue. The woman interviewed was holding the star. Lucien, she's got it! Grandad rushed to the phone. Was little captain there?

It was hard to tell. Some days later, the sailor called in. She gave the star back to Lucian, saying, I'm sorry the little captain is lost. I feel sure he helped me, though I'll never know how.

Lucian tried hard not to cry, but managed to say, Thank you. Was there any hope of ever seeing little Captain again? He was going to miss him. The holidays were over. One lovely autumn day after school, Lucian went to play on the beach. His dog bounced happily in front and chased a seagull. The seagull stopped. And where she stopped... The dog began to dig. At the bottom of the hole, damp and scratched, Lucien found Little Captain. In bed that night, Lucien held Little Captain tight.

right close to his ear. Now you can tell me what really happened, he whispered. And Lucien closed his eyes and listened to the story. And ask your friends and family to do the same. Thanks for listening.