HUGO THE LIFESAVING SAILOR

Hugo swaps his airplane from Hugo the Flying Firefighter (2005) for a smiling sailboat, Gypsy. Hugo, small and affable, breezes down Sweetwater Creek and into Blue Frog River. Along the way he happens upon neighborhood friends also enjoying the lovely day. Mrs. Brown, the bear, is fishing, and Mr. Rhinehart, the rhino, is floating along with his horn in a book. But alas, a storm erupts. Everyone, including Hugo and Gypsy, are swept up and away as the cresting waves toss them about. When the storm abruptly subsides, Hugo hears, “Help!” from Mrs. Pentland the penguin—her little Penelope has been washed out to sea. “Climb aboard,” offers Hugo, but Gypsy is without wind and therefore cannot move. Hugo has his wits about him and thinks up a way to put wind in the sails. The pastel paintings are lavish in various shades of blue that contrast boldly with bright yellows and reds. The endpapers map the peninsular town surrounded by the creek, river and Rescue Bay. Hugo, with his sense of adventure and I-think-I-can gumption, will hold enormous appeal to the lap-reading set. (Picture book. 2-5)