The Maggie B.

The MAGGIE B 
Irene Haas 1975

The best thing for a cold rainy day is a pot of tea and a pile of books. We pulled out some of our favorites- The Maggie B is one, though it’s good reading in any weather.

Margaret Barnstable wished on a star one night-
North Star, star of the sea,
I wish for a ship
Named after me,
To sail for a day
Alone and free,
With someone nice
For company.

She wakes up to find herself on the Maggie B with her little brother, James. The ship has everything she needs, a cozy cabin, a little farm on the poop deck, even a goat for warm milk.



She teaches James to count and paints a portrait of him while he naps. Then she makes a fish stew on the stove just in time before a storm hits. Everything is warm and snug inside their cabin where they eat stew and muffins and baked peaches before settling into bed.

After juice-and-cookie time, she gave James his counting lesson.

As she whipped off her apron, she closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of the good sea stew. All afternoon it would simmer and fill the air with its fragrance.




Everything about this story, from the words to the pictures is cozy and homey and good.