The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles - An Unusual Messenger

When I saw the title of this book, the first thing that came to mind was, " Is there anyone who has held or holds such a job?" 

But Wikipedia says that in the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth 1, created such a job profile, where navy people used to communicate important messages about enemy countries offshore through bottles. The uncorkers' duty was to open them. The book is written by Michelle Cuevas and Illustrated by Erin E. Stead.

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles

Synopsis : 

The uncorker of ocean bottles is a stinky man with a drab personality who lives near the ocean with only one tree for shade. He had the important duty of looking at the Ocean for bottles with messages, opening them, and handing them over to the respective person. 

Whether the place of delivery was nearby or far off, the uncorker did his duty without any hesitation. For him, the letter could hold the treasure of a clam-hugged pearl, while he felt happy doing his duty, a part of him hoped that he would also receive a letter in his name one day in a bottle, but it wouldn't happen, because he neither had any name nor any friends or relatives to send any. 

One day he receives a letter without any name, which holds the message of "invitation to the party at seashore ", he starts the journey in search of the unknown person and ends up in disappointment as well as a surprise. 

He was able to find out the receiver to whom the letter belonged. What made him feel disappointed and surprised at the same time? That Is the rest of the story. 

My thoughts: 

Before Emails and smartphones took over there was a period when we used to wait for the postman to check whether we had received any letter, it gave a sense of excitement until the letter had been opened and read. The author should be thanked for bringing back such memories through his simple narration. Illustrations are excellent and apt for the story, oil pastel and pencil drawings clearly express the mood of the characters. 

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles is a story with a message of why it is important to have a community, either in the form of a friend or a relative. A story that helps the readers to understand the importance of a family, a story that teaches why loneliness is considered terrible poverty, and last but not least, it is a story that helps to understand the true meaning of happiness, which is the one that comes from making others happy.