Tugboat Bill and the River Rescue

PreS-K—A bright, adjective-laden work that will appeal to toddlers and preschoolers. Every day, Bill, a tugboat, pushes his friend Mabel, a barge loaded with gravel, up and down the Hudson. Mabel's hull has seen better days, but she's "loyal and brave" and does her job well. Bill and Mabel make a happy duo until some big, shiny new ships float by and disparage Mabel's appearance. Mabel pretends not to notice, but it's clear that she is affected by their unkind words. Mabel and Bill prove, however, that appearances mean nothing when they rescue a kitten who falls into the water (the snobby ships won't deign to help). When the tug and barge are hailed as heroes, the ships wish out loud that they were more like the pair. Brill's text contains rich vocabulary (Bill's captain is either "sunny or sour," depending on the day; the ships are "haughty and vain") and is filled with boat-related terms that serve to paint a vivid picture. So, too, do Carpenter's retro, flat illustrations, which are mostly done in primary colors, with occasional touches of green, black, and gray.