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The Lady with the Ship on Her Head
Madame Pompenstance decides to decorate her hair with seashells in a desperate attempt to win the prize for the Best Headdress at the Fancy Dress Ball, but she doesn’t notice the ship that sails onto her head when she bends down to gather shells at the beach. “Lattimore has crafted exquisite, historically accurate illustrations that will provide as much mirth as her tongue-in-cheek tale.”-- Publishers Weekly
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 29, 2009
I fell in love with this book when I was young and saw it on Reading Rainbow, and I'm thrilled that the love is still here so many years later!
This little treasure is filled with fun, both in writing (the names of all the women are hilarious!) and illustrations (I adore the illustrations! If for nothing else than this poor woman's hair looks like waves on the hull of the ship! Brilliant!)
The story is about Madame Pompenstance, who wishes that she could finally win "Best Headdress at the Fancy Dress Ball." When a miniature ship sails onto Pompenstance's head, she must endure an entire day of headaches and unbalance, because, of course, she doesn't *know* that there's a ship on her head. But, will it help her win the award anyway?
I'm not really sure which moral we're supposed to garner from this book - is it the absurdity of over-the-top fashion? Something about society and classes? That rudeness isn't rewarded? That the good will finally triumph? Because, does Madame Pompenstance really get what she wants? I'm assuming based on the end, that it's about not needing to fit it with the "it" crowd, but you know, maybe it's a hodge-podge of morals, or maybe it's none. I don't know, and I really don't care, because this book is so delightful anyway!
A slight warning: there is rum in this book - it's briefly mentioned, and only that it's cause for the ship's crew to throw a party. Nothing detailed, but, if it bothers you, then FYI.
I should probably only give this four stars, but, because of nostalgia and because it's just so unique I have to give it five!
This little treasure is filled with fun, both in writing (the names of all the women are hilarious!) and illustrations (I adore the illustrations! If for nothing else than this poor woman's hair looks like waves on the hull of the ship! Brilliant!)
The story is about Madame Pompenstance, who wishes that she could finally win "Best Headdress at the Fancy Dress Ball." When a miniature ship sails onto Pompenstance's head, she must endure an entire day of headaches and unbalance, because, of course, she doesn't *know* that there's a ship on her head. But, will it help her win the award anyway?
I'm not really sure which moral we're supposed to garner from this book - is it the absurdity of over-the-top fashion? Something about society and classes? That rudeness isn't rewarded? That the good will finally triumph? Because, does Madame Pompenstance really get what she wants? I'm assuming based on the end, that it's about not needing to fit it with the "it" crowd, but you know, maybe it's a hodge-podge of morals, or maybe it's none. I don't know, and I really don't care, because this book is so delightful anyway!
A slight warning: there is rum in this book - it's briefly mentioned, and only that it's cause for the ship's crew to throw a party. Nothing detailed, but, if it bothers you, then FYI.
I should probably only give this four stars, but, because of nostalgia and because it's just so unique I have to give it five!
October 8, 2009
I LOVED this on "Reading Rainbow" when I was younger and it was quite a lot of fun to read it again now, not to mention the nostalgic appeal! The illustrations are so humorous and full of delicious (period) details, and the story is just a hoot! I mean, how can she not know there is a ship on her head!?!?!? ;-p And, let's not even bother to question how there can be a little ship with a miniature crew sailing about along the French coast! ;-> Yet, it highlights the very real absurdity of going too far for fashion and jealousy!
November 28, 2019
When Madame Pompenstance takes a stroll on the beach one morning, distracted by thoughts of that night's Fancy Dress Ball, and her (slim) chances of winning the Medal of Honor for Best Headdress, a miniature ship sails right off the sea and onto her head! So begins a hilarious day, as Madame's unusual head-gear brings her unexpected good luck at Ball and Hoops, the Countess of Eclair's afternoon card game, and (of course!) the Ball...
It's a shame I never encountered The Lady With the Ship on Her Head as a young girl, because I think I would have loved the combination of absurd humor - Madame never realizes she has a ship on her head, believing instead that her discomfort springs from a terrible headache - and fanciful illustrations. I've read and enjoyed many other picture-books by Deborah Nourse Lattimore, so it comes as no surprise that this Reading Rainbow selection should prove so engaging. But although I did enjoy it, I felt as if I were missing something: I liked it, but didn't love it as much as my friends. Perhaps I simply missed the boat on this one?
It's a shame I never encountered The Lady With the Ship on Her Head as a young girl, because I think I would have loved the combination of absurd humor - Madame never realizes she has a ship on her head, believing instead that her discomfort springs from a terrible headache - and fanciful illustrations. I've read and enjoyed many other picture-books by Deborah Nourse Lattimore, so it comes as no surprise that this Reading Rainbow selection should prove so engaging. But although I did enjoy it, I felt as if I were missing something: I liked it, but didn't love it as much as my friends. Perhaps I simply missed the boat on this one?
June 23, 2015
Beautifully and elaborately illustrated story of a silly woman who wants to win a head-dress costume but fails to notice a ship has become caught in her hair.
July 31, 2017
Madame Pompenstance has an unusual day as she makes her rounds with a small ship perched upon her head.
Ah, the idle rich . . .
Such silly, silly people.
Ah, the idle rich . . .
Such silly, silly people.
March 10, 2013
This was a favourite picture book of mine back in my childhood. I remember walking to the library frequently after school and never failing to pull this one off the shelf for yet another re-read. The story is so funny and entertaining that I never got tired of it, and I was absolutely entranced by the wonderfully detailed artwork that helped to illustrate the absurdity of the tale.
July 28, 2020
Mme. Pompenstance has a problem: she can't think what to wear to the fancy-dress ball. The ensuing - and unwitting - solution is a marvelous blend of splendor and silliness. This was one I read over and over to my kids - both boys.
And on a re-read many years later, the book still charms!
And on a re-read many years later, the book still charms!
June 11, 2015
This was such a fun book! The story is absurd and just a hoot to read. We were laughing the whole way through. My daughter has already asked for our own copy.
July 8, 2023
This is a delightful, humorous children's picture book written and illustrated by Deborah Lattimore, a Caldecott nominated artist. The fictional story mirrors a real-life event that took place in France in 1778 and coincidentally, I read a non-fiction book recently that told about that event, In the Hurricane's Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown, p.61.
Lattimore's beautifully illustrated book is the story of Madame Pompenstance who goes to the beach for a bit of fresh air and to find some shells for hair ornaments. While there she leans down to pick up a shell near the water and a miniature ship sails right into her elaborate hair-do. Not knowing it is there causes her no end of trouble and a massive headache.
The real-life event that this book mirrors has to do with a sea battle between a French and an English ship off the coast of Brittany in 1778. The smaller French ship, the Belle Poule (Beautiful Chicken!) fought the British ship, the HMS Arethusa, to a draw. The French citizens were so elated that Parisian society ladies created an elaborate hair-do, the Belle Poule, in memory of the event. They actually placed small miniature ships on top of their elaborate mountains of hair and paraded their creations to fancy dress balls.
Deborah Lattimore's beautiful illustrations, especially of the ladies in their beautiful gowns and elaborate hair styles in 18th century France are "meticulously researched and authentic." I loved looking at them, but would have dreaded wearing them, especially a ship on the top of my head!
Lattimore's beautifully illustrated book is the story of Madame Pompenstance who goes to the beach for a bit of fresh air and to find some shells for hair ornaments. While there she leans down to pick up a shell near the water and a miniature ship sails right into her elaborate hair-do. Not knowing it is there causes her no end of trouble and a massive headache.
The real-life event that this book mirrors has to do with a sea battle between a French and an English ship off the coast of Brittany in 1778. The smaller French ship, the Belle Poule (Beautiful Chicken!) fought the British ship, the HMS Arethusa, to a draw. The French citizens were so elated that Parisian society ladies created an elaborate hair-do, the Belle Poule, in memory of the event. They actually placed small miniature ships on top of their elaborate mountains of hair and paraded their creations to fancy dress balls.
Deborah Lattimore's beautiful illustrations, especially of the ladies in their beautiful gowns and elaborate hair styles in 18th century France are "meticulously researched and authentic." I loved looking at them, but would have dreaded wearing them, especially a ship on the top of my head!
October 1, 2019
This is an amusing story of a competition among ladies for the best headdress. While looking at the beach for something to make an outstanding headdress, Madame Pompenstance accidentally got a small ship on her head - unknown to her - and it affected everything she did. Funny story with fabulous illustrations.
January 26, 2022
I thought the illustrations were beautiful when I grabbed the book off the shelf but as I read, they became more of a distraction. The elaborate drawings would be hard for students to see from a distance and cause a bit of a headache after a minute. The story was okay. It had several moments of absurdity but no clear message or lesson.
July 17, 2019
I fell in love with this book when I was little and it took me a very long time to remember it. It is as beautiful as I recall and the story is more enchanting than I remember. I plan to share this book with my nieces as soon as I can.
February 7, 2018
A childhood favorite
May 11, 2019
This book is literally over-the-top, and filled with fantastical illustrations.
August 13, 2019
A silly story about vanity and unlikely elaborate headdresses. A Reading Rainbow book.
August 16, 2021
Enchanting story! Reveals the character of those around her, but with herself remaining clueless to everything except her growing headache.
April 11, 2022
1 billion trillion stars. Haven’t read this in about 10 years but it should be up there with Moby Dick and War and Peace. An absolute masterpiece.
May 14, 2023
This was cute.
I really enjoyed this funny like story about a woman with a ship stuck on her head.
It was just what I was hoping it would be.
I really enjoyed this funny like story about a woman with a ship stuck on her head.
It was just what I was hoping it would be.
February 29, 2024
This book is everything I love about fashion and everything I detest about snooty, petty, jealous women.
August 27, 2024
Wonderfully bizarre.
June 27, 2022
Silly fun!
January 6, 2019
This is one of my favorite finds from Jim Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook. The pictures are beautiful and the story is hilarious.
I didn't remember until my daughter brought this out last night that we had scored a copy of this book when our library marked it out, though it was still in good condition. I feel it's somewhat tragic when libraries sometimes remove wonderful books because they are older or not checked out enough. Maybe they just need to be rediscovered. What will happen when all these older books are no longer in any library's collections?
Your loss, library, our gain.
I didn't remember until my daughter brought this out last night that we had scored a copy of this book when our library marked it out, though it was still in good condition. I feel it's somewhat tragic when libraries sometimes remove wonderful books because they are older or not checked out enough. Maybe they just need to be rediscovered. What will happen when all these older books are no longer in any library's collections?
Your loss, library, our gain.
February 6, 2016
A rather weird story about ladies back in the day when they dressed in huge dresses with huge wigs and decorated themselves every which way. Our heroine desperately wants to win the Best Headdress at the Fancy Ball, but all she can think of is to decorate her hair with shells. When she leans over at the beach to pick some up, a tiny ship sails into her hair - unbeknownst to her. This little ship causes her all sorts of discomfort throughout the day, but in the end, it wins her the contest.
Excellent, detailed illustrations.
Excellent, detailed illustrations.
June 2, 2014
It was exciting when she put her head in the water, a little ship came in her hair and it made her hair just like the sea, she pulled up her hair like waves cuz she wanted to win a competition and whoever wins a competition gets to marry the king. She didn't win, she got very mad so she ran and when she ran the ship fell off her head and then she stopped feeling bad and went back home.
And that's why I like it.
And that's why I like it.
January 29, 2009
One of my absolute favorite books as a child.
August 11, 2014
An old favorite of my childhood. I found it very funny.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews