Tugboat Bill and the River Rescue. Brill, Calista (Author) , Carpenter, Tad (Illustrator)
Feb 2017. 40 p. Harper, hardcover, $17.99. (9780062366184).

A cheery yellow tugboat named Bill and his sleepy captain chug along the Hudson River, which can be “blue or gray / . . . swift or sluggish / depending on the day.” Bill is friends with Mabel the barge, who is a little dented and dirty but also loyal and brave. Each day, Bill pushes or pulls Mabel and her heavy loads along the river, but sometimes they encounter bigger, flashier ships that like to bully Mabel. Kindness and helpfulness win the day, however, when Mabel and Bill rescue a floundering kitten that the other boats ignore. The haughty big boats grow jealous upon seeing the next day’s glowing headline: “Hero Barge Saves Cat.” The digital artwork is rendered in bold, primary colors and carries a retro feel, with the boats’ expressive faces calling to mind Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House (1942). Double-page spreads depict broad river scenes and large-scale artwork, ideal for group sharing. Alliteration and playful descriptors further add to its read-aloud appeal. An uplifting story sure to tug heartstrings. — Julia Smith