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Little Tim
TIM TO THE RESCUE
Bored with his schoolwork, Tim is longing to be at sea again, following his adventures in Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain. Luckily, his great friend Captain McFee appears in time for another voyage! On board ship, Tim befriends Ginger, the first ship's boy. Unfortunately, mischievous Ginger will need all of Tim's resourcefulness to get out of his next scrape... Little Tim's adventures at sea have delighted generations of children ever since the first book was published in 1936. Edward Ardizzone, who illustrated over 170 books in his lifetime, received the prestigious Kate Greenaway medal for Tim All Alone in 1956.
Includes QR code that links to audio book read by Stephen Fry.
Includes QR code that links to audio book read by Stephen Fry.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1949
About the author
Edward Ardizzone
195 books37 followersEdward Jeffrey Irving Ardizzone, CBE, RA was an English artist, writer and illustrator, chiefly of children's books.
For Tim All Alone (Oxford, 1956), which he wrote and illustrated, Ardizzone won the inaugural Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject.
For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005) it was named one of the top ten winning works, selected by a panel to compose the ballot for a public election of the all-time favourite.
For Tim All Alone (Oxford, 1956), which he wrote and illustrated, Ardizzone won the inaugural Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject.
For the 50th anniversary of the Medal (1955–2005) it was named one of the top ten winning works, selected by a panel to compose the ballot for a public election of the all-time favourite.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 24, 2020
I really enjoy the Tim books - they have quaint illustrations and the old-fashioned story-telling never ceases to charm!
Ages: 5 - 10
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Ages: 5 - 10
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
February 5, 2011
A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.
I came away from this old story of Tim, a child who goes off to sea, with several observations:
1. Parents were more lenient in the old days. Tim was allowed to go off to sea as long as he promised to study when he wasn’t working.
2. There is a surprisingly large amount of text in this book for a picture book. I am reminded of the Robert McCloskey books which were published around the same time, which also had large chunks of text. Was that the norm at the time?
3. Once upon a time, children’s books were composed of adventures. Not so much any more. Why don’t children have adventures any more?
I came away from this old story of Tim, a child who goes off to sea, with several observations:
1. Parents were more lenient in the old days. Tim was allowed to go off to sea as long as he promised to study when he wasn’t working.
2. There is a surprisingly large amount of text in this book for a picture book. I am reminded of the Robert McCloskey books which were published around the same time, which also had large chunks of text. Was that the norm at the time?
3. Once upon a time, children’s books were composed of adventures. Not so much any more. Why don’t children have adventures any more?
March 28, 2020
This was my favourite of the Tim books so far. The characters were a delight in pictures and prose. I especially liked Ginger and his problem hair. Funny and exciting.
May 28, 2026
I have been a fan of Edward Ardizzone for many years both for his delightful whimsical illustrations and for his excellent storylines and 'Tim to the Rescue' upholds his reputation very well.
His desire as he works on his homework at home is to be a sailor and he realises that if he is to become one he will have to learn to do his sums. He is bemoaning the fact that he had to do so when his friend Captain McFee calls and informs Tim that he has once more got a ship, SS Fidelity of 3000 tons. He intends sail the seas and wants Tim to travel with him as ship's second boy. Tim longs to go and begs his parents if he could do so.
After some deliberation and a promise that he will work on his school studies in his spare time on board, they agree. Once on board he meets a tall red-haired boy named Ginger, who was the ship's first boy. They become friends and Tim becomes the ship's unofficial teacher of lessons as most of the hands were not well educated. It all makes for a jolly crew.
One or two incidents arise, such as Ginger's hair growing too long due to him using some hair restorer; the ship's barber, Seaman Bloggs, even complains that his fingers are worn down to the bone with all the cutting! And Alaska Pete and Joe the cook, spent so much time making horrid mixtures to try to stop Ginger's hair growing that discipline went to the dogs for a while.
But all that was to change when a nasty storm hits the ship and they all had to pull together to keep the ship seaworthy. Tim is particularly brave in the face of the storm and rescues Ginger and the ship's black cat from drowning. It all results in everyone once more working together to keep things shipshape and Tim was so good that he is recommended for a medal from the Royal Humane Society while Alaska Joe and Old Joe were richly rewarded with some money for their efforts.
When the ship arrives back in port, Tim invites Ginger to stay with them and his parents arrange for Ginger to go to school with him ... and they are both successful. But Tim's proudest moment comes when he is presented with a gold medal and a parchment scroll for his endeavours on the voyage.
And the story is accompanied by Ardizonne's superb illustrations done in colour and black and white.
His desire as he works on his homework at home is to be a sailor and he realises that if he is to become one he will have to learn to do his sums. He is bemoaning the fact that he had to do so when his friend Captain McFee calls and informs Tim that he has once more got a ship, SS Fidelity of 3000 tons. He intends sail the seas and wants Tim to travel with him as ship's second boy. Tim longs to go and begs his parents if he could do so.
After some deliberation and a promise that he will work on his school studies in his spare time on board, they agree. Once on board he meets a tall red-haired boy named Ginger, who was the ship's first boy. They become friends and Tim becomes the ship's unofficial teacher of lessons as most of the hands were not well educated. It all makes for a jolly crew.
One or two incidents arise, such as Ginger's hair growing too long due to him using some hair restorer; the ship's barber, Seaman Bloggs, even complains that his fingers are worn down to the bone with all the cutting! And Alaska Pete and Joe the cook, spent so much time making horrid mixtures to try to stop Ginger's hair growing that discipline went to the dogs for a while.
But all that was to change when a nasty storm hits the ship and they all had to pull together to keep the ship seaworthy. Tim is particularly brave in the face of the storm and rescues Ginger and the ship's black cat from drowning. It all results in everyone once more working together to keep things shipshape and Tim was so good that he is recommended for a medal from the Royal Humane Society while Alaska Joe and Old Joe were richly rewarded with some money for their efforts.
When the ship arrives back in port, Tim invites Ginger to stay with them and his parents arrange for Ginger to go to school with him ... and they are both successful. But Tim's proudest moment comes when he is presented with a gold medal and a parchment scroll for his endeavours on the voyage.
And the story is accompanied by Ardizonne's superb illustrations done in colour and black and white.
June 30, 2023
Little Tim at sea is such an endearing boy. Here's a sample:
Once at sea, Tim was kept busy doing odd jobs. But when the weather was fine and he had no duties to do, he would sit on deck in some sunny spot and study hard.
Soon he had the reputation of being a scholar."
On board with Little Tim andthe rest of the sailors is Ginger, poor Ginger. Due to a certain uniquely troubling problem with his hair, "Ginger became so unhappy that he took to hiding in the boats. His only friends were Tim and the ship's cat".
By the end, all is well. As for the ending, though a bit old-fashioned by today's standards, this definitely warmed my heart.
FIVE GOLDEN STARS
Once at sea, Tim was kept busy doing odd jobs. But when the weather was fine and he had no duties to do, he would sit on deck in some sunny spot and study hard.
Soon he had the reputation of being a scholar."
On board with Little Tim andthe rest of the sailors is Ginger, poor Ginger. Due to a certain uniquely troubling problem with his hair, "Ginger became so unhappy that he took to hiding in the boats. His only friends were Tim and the ship's cat".
By the end, all is well. As for the ending, though a bit old-fashioned by today's standards, this definitely warmed my heart.
FIVE GOLDEN STARS
March 4, 2021
Tim had an adventure on a ship and he saved someone's life.
March 19, 2022
Best edition EVER!
Scan the QR code and have Stephen Fry read the story to you while you turn the pages.
Feeling like a kid again :-)
Scan the QR code and have Stephen Fry read the story to you while you turn the pages.
Feeling like a kid again :-)
July 22, 2025
I had heard this author recommended and finally got a chance to check it out. It’s quite sweet! A tiny bit dated but still quite nice.
June 22, 2026
First of all, the illustrations are charming.
The story was cute, a little adventure about a boy going on a ship with his captain friend :)
The story was cute, a little adventure about a boy going on a ship with his captain friend :)
August 21, 2016
It's a easy book. I think Tim is a good boy, he's very kind and friendly and clever, he knows how to save himself.
Ginger is a poor boy, he has no friends, nobody tells him how to make friend, he must be lonly. He didn't choose how to make friend at first, he chose to be noughty. When he wanted to amuse himself, he teased mumbers of the ship, like the ship's car. When Tim saved Cinger, I think Ginger felt warm, maybe it's the first time Ginger knew what friendship was. After that, Ginger stared making friend.
Ginger is a poor boy, he has no friends, nobody tells him how to make friend, he must be lonly. He didn't choose how to make friend at first, he chose to be noughty. When he wanted to amuse himself, he teased mumbers of the ship, like the ship's car. When Tim saved Cinger, I think Ginger felt warm, maybe it's the first time Ginger knew what friendship was. After that, Ginger stared making friend.
October 9, 2016
Edward Ardizzone is far and away my favorite author of picture books. I love both his illustrations and Tim's adventures. They are like Tintin books for a younger audience. But my very favorite Ardizzone book is Sarah and Simon and No Red Paint.
January 19, 2009
Great stuff.
December 9, 2014
Tim's parents are pretty understanding, but he is a top student so maybe that's why he's given so much freedom to sail on ships.
Lovely Edward Ardizzone illustrations in all the Little Tim books.
Lovely Edward Ardizzone illustrations in all the Little Tim books.
December 3, 2023
The "Tim" series is a read-aloud for 1-2nd grade. Not for early readers. But they are BEYOND classics. With good middos to boot. "Tim to the Rescue" is the one where Ginger's hair grows. c.1949
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews