A Little Ferry Tale

by Chad Otis, Chad Otis (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Here it is — the cutest book with the cutest title ever. Author-illustrator Chad Otis's retro yet modern story follows Little Ferry as she navigates the turbulent waters of life. She isn't strong and she isn't fast. She isn't graceful like the sailboats but she's dependable, sturdy, and special in her own way. When disaster strikes, though unexpected to the tugboats and speedboats, Little Ferry is there to save the day. A Little Ferry Tale is The Little Engine on waves. Perfect for fans of Small Walt, Corduroy and Mel Fell.

In the spirit of The Little Engine That Could, this sweet picture book introduces Little Ferry, who yearns to be more like the faster or stronger boats in the harbor only to find out her uniqueness can be her strength.

Little Ferry feels like no one notices her. She isn’t strong like Tugboat or fast like Speedboat or graceful like Sailboat, the boats everyone loves to watch. But Little Ferry is special, too! She’s patient and careful and always on time. And when disaster flares on Wildlife Island, Little Ferry finds that her quiet traits are the very ones that will help her finally stand out and save the day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534487697
Publisher:	Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Publication date:	08/02/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	82,719
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Chad Otis has a BFA in design from the University of Washington School of Art. He’s been working with the likes of Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Online for over twenty-five years as an animator, illustrator, and creative director. Chad lives in Boise, Idaho, and is also the illustrator of Cuddle Monkey and author-illustrator of A Little Ferry Tale.

Chad Otis has a BFA in design from the University of Washington School of Art. He’s been working with the likes of Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Online for over twenty-five years as an animator, illustrator, and creative director. Chad lives in Boise, Idaho, and is also the illustrator of Cuddle Monkey and author-illustrator of A Little Ferry Tale.

Editorial Reviews

06/20/2022

Traveling between land and an island wildlife refuge, Little Ferry is careful, reliable, and quiet—and feels unappreciated by her passengers, who cheer “rough and fearless” Tugboat; velocity-centric Speedboat; and “carefree and graceful” Sailboat. Attempting one day to compete with the others for attention, Little Ferry is told, “You certainly were not made for THIS!” But when the island’s inhabitants need evacuating during a fire, the very qualities that make the other vessels flashy also render them ineffectual: “Little Ferry was quiet as she neared the shore. She was slow and careful as she lowered her ramp. And she was patient as she waited for the animals to climb on.” This tale of a mild-mannered entity coming into her own has a familiar trajectory, including a “You got this!” moment when self-doubt strikes. But Otis’s (Cold Turkey) narration offers a subtle intensity, conveyed alongside layered watercolor-like digital spreads that balance cartoon anthropomorphism and action with ample color and texture. His use of blue is particularly noteworthy: from the lightest of sky-blue washes to the bay’s iridescent striations, the setting fully lives up to its description as “a place with more water than land.” Ages 4–8. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

2022-04-27
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. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews