The Lion's Paw: Children's Book or Adult Dream about Sanibel & Freedom

Back in 1946, author Robb White came up with a brilliant idea for a book.

Titling it The Lions Paw, a lovely seashell found on Sanibel and Captiva and the name of the boat in the book, White wrote a story designed successfully to capture the imagination of every child from 9 to 90.

It wove together adventure, excitement, mystery, thrills, beauty and even a great deal of true to life descriptions of  boating.

While the two orphans in the story escape an orphanage to find freedom and love, the  young man they connect with is not so much fleeing as hanging on to the memories of his long lost father and the boat that belonged to him -----now in jeopardy of being sold.

Who could not be enchanted with a story of the sea, animals, friendships, a treasure hunt and an escape from some very nasty adults?

Apparently no would could escape the magic, and The Lion's Paw was a special  book for decades, read in schools and in the homes of millions of Americans. 

It had gone out of print, but now in its new edition,  it is gaining the popularity it once had, despite the fact that it was published so long ago.  And, quite honestly, much as it did in its original publication, there are probably as many adults caught up in the magic of this Florida tale as there are children enjoying it.

We have a strong hunch that the descriptions of our tropical islands and the entire sense of escaping reality are strong drivers in the popularity among adult readers.

The rousing dramas described as the boat gets tossed about in storms, as the two orphans find their sea legs and as the young boat captain out thinks and out maneuvers those hunting him down are crowd pleasers and page turners. 

And those of us who live on and work on these tropical escapes of Sanibel and Captiva totally relate to the desire to get away.  Though we may not be avoiding anything negative, the positive experience of being on a barrier island, away from it all, surrounded by turquoise seas and in the lap of mother nature with her creatures at beck and call is exhilarating.

We encourage all our vacation rental guests to pick up a copy of The Lion's Paw before they arrive.  It will only heighten their enjoyment of our beautiful islands!