Sammy Salt's mum and dad say he's too small to sail the seas with them in their ship the Jolly Jack. But when they try to say goodbye before setting off on an exciting voyage to Coconut Island, Sammy is nowhere to be found. And then some very odd things start happening on board ...

Based on the classic 'Happy Families' card game, this highly entertaining series is ideal for reading and sharing at home or at school. It is guided by the Education Adviser, Brian Thompson, and written by the award-winning author, Allan Ahlberg.

'The best thing to happen to beginner readers since Dr Seuss' Children's Rights Workshop.

This book features in the following series: Happy Families, Puffin Storybooks .

. This book is part of a reading scheme, meaning that it is a book aimed at children who are learning to read.

There are 24 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 1980 by Penguin Books Ltd .

Allan Ahlberg is the author of nuemrous award-winning and popular children's books, including the HAPPY FAMILIES series and PLEASE MRS BUTLER, a book of school poems. Mark Williams is one of the stars of the BBC's THE FAST SHOW.