Deborah Hopkinson

Award Winning Author of Fiction & Nonfiction for Children & Teens

Trim Saves the Day

Trim Saves the Day

What is this book about?

One small kit­ten learns about the great big world as he sets sail with his fel­low ship­mates, ani­mal and human, in this his­tor­i­cal fic­tion inter­me­di­ate read­er.

When Trim trips over a nap­ping dog, lit­tle does he know that soon he’ll set sail and begin learn­ing how to be a ship’s cat. Among his first lessons: the parts of the ship (the front is called the bow, like “bow wow”), the dynam­ics among his new col­leagues (Jack the ship’s par­rot is not so easy to befriend), and basic skills like climb­ing (up is eas­i­er than down) and swim­ming. With the assis­tance of Cap­tain Flinders, Pen­ny the ship’s dog, and Will the ship’s artist, Trim learns new skills, tests his lim­its and abil­i­ties, and finds a way to con­tribute to life onboard.

This delight­ful ear­ly read­er series is inspired by the true sto­ry of Trim, often called the most famous ship’s cat in his­to­ry. Owned by British explor­er Matthew Flinders, Trim trav­eled on the HMS Inves­ti­ga­tor on the first expe­di­tion to cir­cum­nav­i­gate Aus­tralia (1801–1803).

Awards and Recognition

  • Bank Street Col­lege of Edu­ca­tion Best Chil­dren’s Books 2025

Reviews

“Car­toon-style line and col­or illus­tra­tions faith­ful­ly depict a 19th-cen­tu­ry ship and a cat’s hilar­i­ous antics … More sea­wor­thy fun with this endear­ing feline hero.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Hop­kin­son reminds read­ers that set­ting out on an adven­ture with good friends is the best way to expe­ri­ence our won­drous world. Rec­om­mend­ed for chap­ter book col­lec­tions.” (School Library Jour­nal)

Trim Saves the Day

author, Deb­o­rah Hop­kin­son
illus­tra­tor, Kristy Cald­well
Peachtree Pub­lish­ing
Pen­guin Ran­dom House
ages 7 and up, March 5, 2024
ISBN 978–1682632932

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