Madame B Goes on a Cruise

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

In the first of these fanciful tales, Madame B and her cat, Rascal, go
on a cruise where they rescue (with a “lifesaver”) a drowning salmon
and befriend it. After tea, Madame B and the salmon go for a swim in the
ocean from which Madame B herself must be rescued.

In Madame B Takes Up Flying, Madame and Rascal pilot a plane full of
passengers on an amazing journey. Lifting off like a rocket, they fly
through good-enough-to-eat candy-floss clouds, entertain a flock of wild
geese, and land by candlelight in the midst of a thunderstorm.

The large print, short sentences, and minimal text will appeal to very
young readers. The touches of humour—as when we are told that Rascal
disliked tea but would have loved some salmon, and substituting
“lifesaver” for “life preserver”—add to the fun.

Large, brightly-coloured, full-page illustrations peopled with
cartoon-like figures complement the stories. The cover of Madame B Takes
Up Flying showing the rocket-like take-off is particularly effective.
Recommended.