Captain Tugalong

Dee Cache is the mother of four children. When her children were younger she decided to write a children's book on boating safety that was educational and fun so children would understand the importance of boating safety. The result was Captain Tugalong. Cache is the author-in-residence for four school districts in Southern California and has shared her boating safety message with thousands of children, parents, and teachers. Howard Burns spent his early youth in Cleveland, Ohio, and New York City. He obtained a BA from the Rhode Island School of Design. During his army service in Germany he drew pictures of the German-Czech border, from Hof to Passau. Burns worked for many years in New York as a book designer, biological illustrator, and art director. He has done illustrations for several magazines, such as Classic Comics, If, Galaxy, Bell, Ski, and Biological Science. He also founded and was president of the Eastern Shore Tea Co. from 1983 through 1999. In addition, Mr. Burns has illustrated The Boy Who Saved the Town, Captain Tugalong, and Ghosts and Haunted Houses of Maryland.

When Captain Tugalong was new, he traveled up and down the harbor directing big ships in and out safely. Now tied in his slip, Tugalong could feel his cabin jiggle with broken glass and cracked wood. One day Tugalong saw a most beautiful sight: a lovely sleek sailboat was coming toward him sparkling in the noonday sun.