Liars and Saints

  Great characters make a story. "Tim All Alone," a famous picture book, has little Tim returning home from a sea voyage. But his parents are gone! The house is empty; a sign says, "For Rent." A nightmare begins. Tim--convinced that his family is alive--returns to the high seas for a search mission. A benevolent captain gives him jobs, so that he is "too busy to feel sad." But the ship explodes; a matron briefly kidnaps Tim; a new, mean captain treats Tim as an enslaved person. At his lowest point, Tim finds comfort in the company of a small black cat. This book is a bit old-fashioned; the writer doesn't hesitate to point out that good things grow from Tim's courtesy and pluckiness. I don't mind the homily. I'm just a fan of the twists and turns, and a fan of the lively illustrations. Edward Ardizzone wrote, and wrote, and wrote--and drew and drew--and he counted Maurice Sendak among his many admirers.

 Tipping a hat to Edward Ardizzone, who ranks among the great picture-book-makers of the twentieth century. Ardizzone wrote about Tim, a small boy who has adventures on the sea. Often, Tim's bravery and intelligence are rewarded; often, the imperiousness and thoughtless acts of "Ginger," a local rake, become serious problems for everyone in Ardizzone's fictional village. Ardizzone knew what kids like: pastries, scruffy dogs, portly sea-faring eccentrics (featured here). They don't make 'em like this anymore.

 "Tim and Lucy Go to Sea" starts with a normal problem: What is a kid to do all day? We're in fantasy terrain, so our kid, Tim, has a bizarre answer: Buy a yacht! Tim persuades his new friends--Lucy and Mr. Grimes--to provide the funding. (It's good to kill off the parents in a picture book, and this one wisely neglects to mention a strict mom and dad. Mr. Grimes is a kooky benefactor; he can see no issue with putting small children in charge of a large boat.) A boat brings new treats: fun jerseys with the boat name ("Evangeline") printed across the front, tales from the grizzled cook. You can stare out at sea, or up at the sky, at a passing plane. You can row a little lifeboat on short "day-trip" excursions. But any adventure also involves challenges, and this one has potential mutineers and a crabby governess, and it's unclear if Tim will win a battle on either front. (Hint: Tim manages the mutineers, and he wins over the governess.) One thin...