Trim Sets Sail (Adventures of Trim)

This historical chapter book, a series kickoff, stars "a kitten who was always ready to go" in Trim--the real-life cherished ship's cat of British explorer Matthew Flinders (1774-1814), who captained the HMS Investigator around Australia. After happenstance sees Trim becoming the ship's cat, short pithy lines from Hopkinson (The Story of a Story) and lively wash-and-ink style digital cartoons by Caldwell (Thanks to Frances Perkins) depict the dark gray feline finding both his sea legs and his place in the ship's small community, which includes a doting dog, a skeptical parrot, and the ship's young artist, portrayed with brown skin. In chapter-length vignettes, Trim learns how to climb up and down from the crow's nest, proves his mettle by saving the parrot from a dive-bombing seagull, and rescues himself when he lands in the salty drink--all before the ship even leaves the bay. A final scene portrays the vessel under full sail, ploughing through purple-blue waters on a starry night, and promises sprightly adventures ahoy for a feline who's the very definition of pluck: "Trim is a brave cat," Jack declares; "My friend's a brave, swimming, climbing cat!" Publishing simultaneously: Trim Helps Out. The human crew is shown with varying skin tones. Ages 7-10. (Oct.)