The Cruise of the Little Dipper, and Other Fairy Tales

"The Cruise of the Little Dipper and Other Fairy Tales" by Susanne K. Langer is a collection of enchanting fairy tales likely written in the early 20th century. The stories included explore whimsical adventures filled with vivid characters and magical themes, drawing readers into fantastical worlds. Central to the tale "The Cruise of the Little Dipper" is a poor, nameless boy known as Birdling, who embarks on a journey that leads him to a small boat and interactions with various whimsical creatures. At the start of "The Cruise of the Little Dipper," readers are introduced to Birdling, a nameless boy living with his strict great-aunt and struggling with poverty. He engages in cheerful whistling while collecting driftwood for his aunt, which delights the local children who invite him to join their fun building sailboats. After abandoning his chores to create a boat from driftwood, Birdling names it the Little Dipper. When he accidentally shrinks after consuming fairy bread taken from a witch-hazel flower, he finds himself in a magical world where he interacts with friendly creatures, including a Bumblebee, leading him into a series of charming adventures. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Susanne Katherina Langer was an American philosopher, writer, and educator known for her theories on the influences of art on the mind. She was one of the earliest American women to achieve an academic career in philosophy and the first woman to be professionally recognized as an American philosopher. Langer is best remembered for her 1942 book Philosophy in a New Key, which was followed by a sequel, Feeling and Form: A Theory of Art, in 1953. In 1960, Langer was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.