Early Chapter Book, Historical Fiction
Grade Level: 2 - 5
ISBN: 978-1682632925
Trim, the cat, has an adventure on a sailing ship that runs into a storm. In this book Trim learns some sailing terms that sailors use to prepare for a storm. Reef the sail, batten down the hatches, lash and secure, take cover, and help someone else stay safe. As the sailors prepare for the coming storm, Trim overcomes his fear by listening to the ship’s dog, parrot, and a seagull about safety in a storm at sea.
Trim was a real cat that belonged to Matthew Flinders, captain of the HMS Investigator in the early 1800s. Trim was the first cat to sail around the continent of Australia.
If you liked this book, you will enjoy the other books about Trim. Look for Trim Sets Sail, Trim Helps Out and Trim Saves the Day.
Author: Deborah Hopkinson currently lives in Portland, Oregon and is an award-winning author of over 70 books for young readers. Her books are historical fiction and non-fiction. When she learned about Trim the cat, she knew that she’d like to write about him. She tried, but it didn’t seem to work, so she put it aside. Later, someone mentioned early chapter books and Deborah thought about Trim and decided to use his story in this format.
Illustrator: Kristy Caldwell is an illustrator/educator who lives in New York and teaches at Queen’s College CUNY. She has illustrated other children’s picture books and enjoys teaching art and illustration.
Reviewed by Audrey Campbell, MED
Reading Specialist and Library Media Center Director
Valley Adventist Schools, Rogers Campus
By Nicholas Day, Art by Brett Helquist
