A Little Ferry Tale

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.)