SOLVED. Fantasy Picture Book. Professor gathering mythical creatures on a boat. [s]

[HatTrick]

WHEN - 2002 ish
What reading level it is aimed at- Unknown. It was a big picture book so probably kids
What the story is about- This is what I can remember. A professor some how ended up sailing around a mythical place collecting creatures on his 'arc'. he may have had a family member with him. only real detail i remember is that he recruited Medusa by giving her glasses that he had smoked so that she could talk with people and not have them turn to stone. The specific scene i am thinking of is she is sitting on the deck of the boat and a bird lands next to here and when she looks at it and it doesnt turn to stone she starts crying from happiness.
What format is the book in- dead tree

Note - This was read to me in second grade and i think the teacher mentioned it was a very expensive book but that could have been to keep us kids off of it.

[Kris]

Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-A-Zoo by Mercer Mayer?

[Mir]

Could it be The Talking Parcel? Some kids meet a parrot who recruits them to help a hidden kingdom full of mythical creatures who were taken there for safety by a wizard, who is kind of a professor type. He might even have been called "professor" -- can't recall.

[SarahBeth]

Maybe The Voyage of the Basset Voyage of the Basset The artwork is amazing.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Perhaps a treatment of one of the Dr. Dolittle books? Dr Dolittle Takes Charge is one of the books that Hugh Lofting wrote about the amazing Dr. Dolittle and his abilitt to talk to animals. (And totally ignore those horrible Eddie Murphy movies by the same name.)

[Aerulan]

The Medusa and smoked glasses thing takes place in Voyage of the Basset. And it's a pricey volume so that fits too.

[HatTrick]

Solved. Voyage of the Basset. Thanks for the help!