And Then Came Hope

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.