A LITTLE FERRY TALE

A nautical reminder that there is value in different strengths and skills.

Little Ferry is patient, steadfast, and punctual, but she longs to be fast and noisy like Speedboat, blithe and lithe as Sailboat, or even bold and fearless like Tugboat. But try as she might, Little Ferry can’t quite emulate the other vessels. Unsurprisingly, it’s not long before an emergency arises and Little Ferry uses her strengths to save the day. A mixture of double-page spreads and smaller panels pop with bright blue, nautical red, and crisp white. The linework is pleasing and supports the overall graphic design tone with familiar elements of both Virginia Burton's and Stephen Savage's works. Human sightseers have a variety of skin tones and hair colors. The big eyes, tiny mouths, and pink cheeks of the anthropomorphized watercraft are pleasant but lack emotional expression at times. The plot is well worn and devoid of novel twists, though the brief, descriptive narrative is suitable for reading aloud to ferry-frenzied little ones. However, it likely won’t resonate with youngsters with limited boating exposure, and the story and artwork aren’t quite strong enough to make this a compelling introduction to the topic for those readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Charming for coastal ferry-riding kids but less enticing for the landlocked.