#CBR16SweetBooks Binge (four books same series/read back-to-back)
Recently I accidentally found myself bingeing a series when I found (in my old) online reading links to copies of Trim Helps Out and Trim Sets Sail by Deborah Hopkinson (the author of way too many wonderful books to name here) and illustrated by Kristy Caldwell (illustrator of some delightful other books such as two I enjoyed, Away with Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird and Flowers for Sarajevo). Both of the new found titles are from October 2023, and I read them out of order (as I have a habit to do), but the nice part was, you really do not have to read them in chronological order as long as you don’t read books three and four first. And even then, you’ll be mostly okay.
Trim is a kitten who finds themselves landing on a dog who is tired and does not wish to play, as they are a ship’s dog and they have been getting ready to set sail. Trim knows they could be a great ship cat (whatever that is) if given the chance. After the captain of the ship finds Trim (actually nameless until given the honor of the name Trim by the captain), Trim learns all that entails. But of course, it is not easy and every day and every adventure shows Trim more about his job and place on the ship (usually on the captain’s shoulder, dining table, or bed). There are life lessons (helping people, overcoming fears, making friends), humor (the ship parrot REALLY likes their snacks), adventures (braving storms for the first time) and more. The art is cute as we are reading about talking animals and scientific sailors (but like a “good human/animal mixes” where the animals talk to each other and not to the humans, we usually do not see the full face of the humans except for Will, a young boy/man who is one of the ship’s artists). So far, there have been no evil pirates or anything too “much” or scary (though there was a white bird that was caught in the storm and it’s up to Trim to save them, just like Trim saved the day when the water barrel sprung a leak). Good colors and minimal, but needed, details wrap things up in a nice package. And though our characters are on a ship and the scenery does not change a lot, things are never boring to view. Perhaps one of the surprising fun facts about this series is that it is based (very loosely) on a real kitten/cat and ship’s captain (British explorer Matthew Flinders (1774-1814). There is historical information included at the end of each volume.
I would love to see a one book collection of all the tiles, or at least the first four. Though that would mean I/we would have to wait until after July 2024 for it to be completed as book four, Trim Sails the Storm is not due until then. But you only have to wait until March 2024 for Trim Saves the Day. This series is good for listeners at least five and up and the first to (young) third grade to read solo. For the adult, the books are simple, repetitive and formulated, but kids will enjoy this comfortable style and want more! Or at least, I want to know more about Trim and their oddball gang of friends (a dog, a parrot and a (not scary) rat).