When I see a publisher bring an out-of-print book from the archives, I am > immediately on alert! Publishers will bring books back to print when the > story has long been forgotten, but discover that there's still an appeal > to modern readers. Such is the case with "Jim Davis: A High Seas > Adventure". John Masefield first published this exciting book in 1911, > and even though I'd never heard of it, it was very popular with children > and everyone else when it first came out in England. Of course, back > then, the nightly form of entertainment for families was to read books > that would captivate the entire family and this book would not only > entertain, but excite anyone of any age in the room. > Young 12 year old Jim is about to become an unwilling crew member aboard a > pirate ship. (The story is reminiscent of Stevensen's "Treasure Island" > except this story has many more settings than just aboard a ship and > living on an island.) A willingness to pass information on to a friendly > buccaneer that could possibly save this ship, has set in motion a series > of events that wind him onto this same vessel preparing to go to sea. > After he finally gets used to the idea that he has left his home in > England, and all that he knows and loves, the adventures begin. > As the crew works on sails, masts, and scurrying everywhere on deck to > make the ship work properly, Marah (the head buccaneer), notices sails > from a convoy of ships far away. He becomes agitated and begins yelling > orders as the entire crew begins to do all in their power to get their > small "lugger" running as fast as possible. The convoy is composed of > English ships looking to capture these low-lying varmints who secretly > smuggle commodities from the French coast. Jim wonders if he is going to > survive the shots from the cannons as they sail closer and closer to his > fleeing, and soon to be fledgling, vessel as one of the shots hits their > sails. He nearly loses his life as "...a heavy, chewed slug would come > into the boat's side within six inches of me." > He tries again and again to escape Marah after being kidnapped. But he is > destined to ride the open seas, deal with battles near the shore, attempt > to care for the injured (including himself), and try to survive and flee. > He meets many different kinds of people besides the pirates. Some include > gypsies, thieves, scoundrels, and soldiers. He crawls through a dark, > unknown cave, rides a horse so fast "...it was as much as I could do to > keep in the saddle," and hides in a secret staircase. > There is a unique forward at the front of the book written by Michael > Morpurgo where he "cooks up" an appetizing rendition of how authors come > up with their plots. His example of the many different kinds of > ingredients, as well as the utensils needed, along with imagining how Mr. > Masefield must have begun this adventure (he died in 1967), is > awe-inspiring and informative to any future writer. This book is written > in first person which helps you understand Jim's feelings of anticipation > and anxiety with every turn of the page. There is an informative glossary > for 'land lubbers' at the back of the book that helps explain various > nautical terms used throughout the story. Mr. Masefield must have grown > up by the sea and spent much time on ships because his insights and > eloquent descriptions are poetic and fill you with the whole sense of what > life was like back in the early 1800's on the coast of England. > So, 9 and older, be ready to set sail because before you know it you'll be > part of this crew! But, be patient, Jim doesn't set sail until part way > into the book. Oh, and if you're wondering if Jim ever makes it back home, > you'll just have to read the book to find out! > __________________
> Mother's Day will soon be upon us and here is a perfect book to honor a > perfect day. "Mommy's Best Kisses", by Margaret Anastas, celebrates what > moms do best. They kiss their babies wherever and whenever they can. They > kiss their toes, their necks, their hands and so on. And what do they do > when the day is done? They do it all over again the next day. Susan > Winter has painted some beautiful animals, along with mother and baby to > make the illustrations compliment this beautiful book. Best for ages 2 > through 6.