Publishers Weekly
03/01/2021
The harbor boats are in need of a little TLC: “First Barge got bonked,” writes Savage (Sign Off), as readers see a cable coil drop off a mid-bridge truck and hit Barge’s deck with owie-making force. Then the other boats get sick, including little Dory, who looks miserable with a runny nose. Aircraft Carrier’s planes send out a skywritten SOS, and into the harbor steams the hospital ship HOPE (inspired, as a detailed afterword notes, by a real-life ship) and her tugboat team. “I’m here to help,” she says, distributing ship-appropriate first aid (croupy Aircraft Carrier gets cough medicine). Once again “shipshape,” the boats get back to work, “but they knew if they ever got sick again... Hope would always be there.” Savage’s digital artwork combines the clean lines and smooth colors of vector art with a boatload of expressiveness—it’s impossible to look at that single drip on Dory’s nose without being touched by fellow-feeling. HOPE may face no obstacles in reaching her patients, which are immediately improved by her presence, but this story’s power is in the reassurance that a source of comfort and caring is never far away. Ages 3–6. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (May)
From the Publisher
"A wonderfully sweet story about kindness and how we can always help one another."—Chelsea Clinton, author of She Persisted
★ "Little readers will be carried along by the bouncy rhythm, the expressive faces of the ships and boats, and the ingenious ways Hope finds to help others in need. Delightful and inspiring."—Booklist, Starred Review
"this story’s power is in the reassurance that a source of comfort and caring is never far away."—Publishers Weekly
"Inspired by the true story of the first peacetime hospital ship, which included an operating room, an X-ray room, a pharmacy, a library, and dozens of doctors and nurses, Savage creates a perfect vehicle book for toddlers. . . . Children will delight in pointing at the characters and participating in the simple plot."—School Library Journal
"Children fearing hospital visits, doctors, or nurses may find comfort in the book’s measured tone. This is reflected not merely in the spare text with its gentle wordplay, but also in the simplicity and style of the digital art." —Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
03/01/2021
PreS—The boats in the harbor are all feeling under the weather. One is hurt, another has a dripping nose and a cough, and another one has a fever. Is there a doctor in the harbor? There are, and nurses, too, on the good ship Hope, which responds to the others' SOS. Inspired by the true story of the first peacetime hospital ship, which included an operating room, an X-ray room, a pharmacy, a library, and dozens of doctors and nurses, Savage creates a perfect vehicle book for toddlers. The one- to three-line text, in an open design that includes a large black font, is positioned near the corners of the pages, allowing expressive spreads of simple retro boats to clue readers in. The scenes rely on a harmonious mixture of curved lines for the ocean, clouds, and seascapes, with softened geometrical shapes for the anthropomorphized boats. Children will delight in pointing at the characters and participating in the simple plot. VERDICT A great sell for story times with an "ouches" or "boo boo" theme, this title sends a message of kindness and tenderness for almost anyone feeling out of sorts.—Kathia Ibacache, Univ. of Colorado Boulder
Kirkus Reviews
2021-03-17
A humanitarian hospital ship figures in a tale of ailing boats and gentle aid.
When the ships are sick, nobody’s happy. Not Barge, who “got bonked,” or Submarine, who has the shakes. Neither are feverish Ferry, coughing Aircraft Carrier, and sniffly, drippy Dory. Who takes care of these ill boats? Why, hospital ship Hope, of course! In a jiffy she treats, comforts, and cares for anyone under the weather. By the time everyone is “shipshape” again, they can rest assured that in the event of another emergency, they’ll always be able to rely on Hope. Backmatter includes a note on the real SS Hope, America’s first peacetime hospital ship, which spent 14 years traveling the world bringing care and training to other countries. Children fearing hospital visits, doctors, or nurses may find comfort in the book’s measured tone. This is reflected not merely in the spare text with its gentle wordplay, but also in the simplicity and style of the digital art. Shapes are cleanly delineated, colors and planes flat. The composition in which Barge suffers her injury is so stylized as to resemble an exercise in the play between positive and negative space. Both text and visuals are so restrained that while the ship-obsessed will love it, it is unlikely that the book will stand up to much rereading among other audiences.
A very real ship inspires a very slight story, coasting on some serious sweetness. (Picture book. 3-6)
