Captain Sunshine – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: New job, cruise, kindness, animals.
Children’s book title: Captain Sunshine.
Children’s author: Alex Milway.
Genre: Children’s fiction, illustrated fiction.
Published by: Piccadilly Press.
ISBN: 9781835871577.
Recommended for children aged: 5+.
First published: Paperback July 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: newly confident readers beginning to read books with chapters, and for discussing how to increase their confidence when attempting new things.
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Our review:
Bella Day is about to do something absolutely amazing! She is going to be the new captain of the good ship Sunshine, and she is very excited! All the other crew members and passengers are animals, and she is going to be the one in charge! After the last captain left under a bit of a cloud, Bella is determined to do her job as best she can and to succeed even when the slightly scary Mrs Purrpot disagrees with what she wants to do! From escorting passengers to their quarters through to offering to help an artist by modelling for him, Bella is apparently very different from her predecessor!
Unfortunately, it seems that not enough food or fuel has been ordered for the cruise, and there are also staff shortages. Then another problem is discovered when a huge liner drops anchor next to the Sunshine, and Bella discovers why things haven’t been running as smoothly as she’d like. Can Bella and her crew get everything shipshape, or will her new job soon be over?
Our verdict:
Aimed at younger readers, Captain Sunshine is a fun read with all the characters, apart from the captain of the Sunshine, being animals. There is a seasick frog, a sad rhino, and two very excited seagulls, to name a few, and the crew is similarly eclectic! All the activities and facilities found on cruise liners are on the Sunshine, and there is plenty of opportunity for discussing how animals are obviously different from humans, but can be put into familiar situations in fiction and be totally believable.
This is the first in a series of four titles and is a good introduction to reading books with chapters, most of which are quite short, and there are plenty of illustrations to enjoy as well. Most readers in the recommended age range should enjoy this page-turner.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Captain Day has just started her new job. How excited would you be to be in charge of a cruise liner, or would you prefer to work on dry land?
- What would be your favourite activity if you were on the Sunshine?
- Design a poster to advertise this activity to the other passengers so they would want to attend as well.
- Bella has always worked with her auntie, but now she is in charge of her own crew! Do you think she did a good job dealing with all the problems?
- Which one do you think was the hardest to solve?
- When the Goliath’s captain was revealed, were you surprised by who it was?
- There are plenty of things to do aboard a cruise liner, but is there anything else you would like to have available?
Many thanks to Piccadilly Press for the review copy.
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Browse our Books for Year 2 list.
