A homeless cat remembers what it was like to belong to someone while he wanders the street on his own. When a dog chases him all the way to the waterfront, the scrawny cat takes refuge under the seat of a dinghy tied to the dock. Storm winds and water snap the boat’s rope, and the cat becomes an unintentional passenger as the dinghy rides out the rough weather before drifting ashore on a small island. Emma, the woman who lives alone there, dries and feeds the cat she names Skipper, in honor of his sailing prowess. An immediate bond between Emma and Skipper is forged in this satisfying tale of friendship, grounded throughout in the perspective of one small cat. Gouache paintings highlight Skipper’s transformation from skinny waif to hearty sailing companion. (Ages 3–6)

A lonely cat, a rainy night, and an empty dinghy launch a heartwarming, seafaring tale about finding home in unlikely places.

The scrawny cat used to belong to someone, someone who scratched his ears and let him lick her chin and knew his name. Now the only thing anyone ever calls him is "get out of here!" But when a snarling dog and a blowing rain turn the scrawny cat into a sailor cat, he learns that even a scared and shivery stray can find a kindred soul at the end of a storm-tossed night. Phyllis Root's lyrical narrative joins with charming illustrations by Alison Friend in a classic, comforting tale about a lost creature that cat lovers (and story hounds) will cozy up to.