A homeless cat remembers what it was like to belong to someone while he wanders the street on his own. When a dog chases him all the way to the waterfront, the scrawny cat takes refuge under the seat of a dinghy tied to the dock. Storm winds and water snap the boat’s rope, and the cat becomes an unintentional passenger as the dinghy rides out the rough weather before drifting ashore on a small island. Emma, the woman who lives alone there, dries and feeds the cat she names Skipper, in honor of his sailing prowess. An immediate bond between Emma and Skipper is forged in this satisfying tale of friendship, grounded throughout in the perspective of one small cat. Gouache paintings highlight Skipper’s transformation from skinny waif to hearty sailing companion. (Ages 3–6)