Cover of Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent
First published
1975
Editions
2 editions
Status
In print
OTHER COVERS
First Edition (cloth board) cover of Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent
First Edition (cloth board)
Back Cover (First Edition) cover of Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent
Back Cover (First Edition)
Clarion Books Edition cover of Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent
Clarion Books Edition
A PICTURE BOOK BY BILL PEET

Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent

A fearsome-looking but gentle sea serpent named Cyrus finds purpose when he decides to do something heroic, escorting a battered old sailing ship safely through a storm and a pirate attack.

OPENING LINES

"Once upon a time there was a giant sea serpent named Cyrus. Even though he was a horrible looking monster he wasn't the least bit fierce. All he did was wander about in the sea with no idea of where he was going. 'I'm tired of wandering,' said Cyrus one day. 'I wish there was something more exciting to do.'"

WHY HE WROTE IT: IN THE FAMILY'S WORDS

Cyrus is another of Bill Peet's monsters who turns out to be kind at heart. On the original family site, an early sketch reveals that the sea serpent was originally named Percival before he became Cyrus. The book continued the thread of friendly mythical beasts that ran through How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head and The Pinkish, Purplish, Bluish Egg.

sea-serpents kindness heroism the-sea mythical-creatures

From the book

Cyrus watches the ships in the harbor below the castle
Cyrus watches the ships in the harbor below the castle
The passengers crowd aboard the Primrose as Cyrus looks on
The passengers crowd aboard the Primrose as Cyrus looks on
The Primrose lies becalmed on the sea at sunset
The Primrose lies becalmed on the sea at sunset
Cyrus gently pushes the Primrose along by moonlight
Cyrus gently pushes the Primrose along by moonlight
Cyrus coils around the ship in the raging storm
Cyrus coils around the ship in the raging storm
Cyrus rams the pirate ship and splits it like a nutshell
Cyrus rams the pirate ship and splits it like a nutshell

Preliminary sketches

An early sketch of Cyrus, originally named Percival
An early sketch of Cyrus, originally named Percival
Illustration for the rough draft of Cyrus
Illustration for the rough draft of Cyrus

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