Disappointing. I love Ardizzone illustrations (in books by other authors), but this book seemed written in order to shove in as many illustrations as possible, and quantity does not beat quality. The story has no whimsy, wit, or magic—and it seems awfully unlikely, but without a nod and a wink that makes unlikely behaviour acceptable in fiction. I'd be surprised that it spawned a popular series, except apparently Thomas the Tank Engine is a runway hit, and I think those are essentially unreadable, so there's no accounting for taste.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve! ( )

Orig. publ. (in its first ed.), 1936Ex libris Rebecca Schaffner ( )

A sweet little picture book about a boy who wants to go to sea, does so, and finds that it's more than he expected, in both good and bad ways. ( )

Published in 1936, the illustrations are very detailed. Altering in color pages then black and white, back to color again, this is a story of Tim who lives by the sea, and he is obsessed with the sea and boats. He loves all kinds of boats, steamers and then small little ones.

His friends are the old boatman and Captain McFee, both of whom spin marvelous tales of their adventures. Longing to be a sailor and venture forth upon the sea, his parents tell him to wait for a long time until he is older.

One day, Tim is given a ride to board a steamer. Tim boarded the steamer and hid so that the boat man would forget him Little did he know that he would be put to work scrubbing the decks, helping the cook and running errands. When a storm approached with wicked waves that tossed the boat to and fro, Tim learned that time at sea is not always joyous.

Cute and whimsical, I enjoyed this story which I'm sure delighted many children throughout the history of the book.

Little Tim wants to be a sailor and was very sad when his parents told him he'd have to wait years until he was grown-up. One day his friend the old boatman asks him if he'd like to go on board a ship for a look. Tim seizes the opportunity and stows away! Upon discovery he's put to hard work, which he does well and finds his place. Until--storm and shipwreck! Don't want to give it all away, but this is a nice story with good old fashioned messages about following dreams, working hard, being good. Nice read aloud ( )