Tuggoat

“My heart dreams tugboat dreams,” declares the lovable goat at the center of this upbeat picture book. Having “studied engines, bumpers, and tow lines” from her herd’s bayside hill, tugboat aficionado Cordelia admires the watercraft for the way they’re always ready to help others. Despite the mockery of a narrow-minded peer, the self-described “tuggoat” relishes her ability to signal and assist just like any tug. A chance to help arrives when the bullying peer gets stuck in mud, and a dramatic rescue ensues, described with breathless onomatopoeic narration from Hamilton (“She bounced to a rock./ Then ‘Wooog, wooog, wooog,’ she backed along a log”). Though the rescuee remains closed-minded, Cordelia and porcine friend Pog take away an optimistic message, making for a triumphant effect. Soft coloring infuses Tsai’s unlined barnyard scenes with a luminous quality that suits Cordelia’s bright dreams and gentle personality. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)