When Marinka, Podgy Plum and Timid Thomas set sail with the Little Captain on board his brave ship the Neversink, a world of adventures awaits. Their incredible journey will take them across stormy seas and scorching sand dunes, through palaces and sailors' inns, past giants, dragons and polar bears. Along the way there will be danger and excitement, ghost ships and buried treasure, pancakes galore, and at the end of it all: friendship. Packed with thrills, laughter and magic, this beautifully illustrated classic seafaring tale has enchanted generations of children.

A timeless and enchanting children's fantasy classic by the author of The King of the Copper Mountains

'Paul Biegel has a grain of real gold in his imagination... [A] curiously thrilling narrative' Naomi Lewis

One morning, after a fierce storm, the people of the harbour come down to find a strange ship called the Neversink stuck fast on top of the sand dunes. Inside is only a small boy with a big cap - The Little Captain. He and his ship stay marooned on top of the dunes until one day a giant wave sweeps the Neversink to freedom. And so The Little Captain sets sail once more, this time with three of the town's children, Podgy, Marinka and Thomas, as his crew mates. Together they are determined to find the island of Evertaller, where legend has it children turn into grown-ups overnight and never have to go to school again...

This enchanting seafaring adventure is beloved by generations of children in the Netherlands.