The Happy Voyage, written and illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown in 1965, is a charming picture book tale written in a lovely rhyme about a boy who is traveling by steamship across the ocean (by himself) to visit his father’s relation for a three-month vacation. During the entire trip, Daniel MacPherson Robert Dufore is fretting about how his Aunt Justine will recognize him when he comes ashore. 

This story is lyrical and the rhymes are clever and fun instead of silly or dumb. Danny makes friends everywhere on the ship and everyone promises to help him find his Aunt Justine. The captain promises to toot his name in morse code from the steam stack, the bandmaster promises to play Danny Boy, and a lady wearing a gown covered in daisies promises to make sure that his aunt sees them all wearing masquerade hats. 

The illustration is all pen and ink sketches but they are full of whimsy and movement. The language, in spite of the rhyming scheme, is complex and lovely. 

This little story is just such a delight to read aloud that I am sure it would be one children would ask for again and again. You can read this out-of-print book for free on Internet Archive.