Hello, friends! Our book today is A Little Ferry Tale by Chad Otis, a sweet nautical fable about the value of diverse talents.

Little Ferry, a hardworking seacraft in “a place with more water than land” has humble strengths: she is patient, quiet, careful, and punctual. While that makes her very good at her job, she can’t help but envy the other boats, whom her passengers always cheer and whoop for. They love fearless Tugboat, thundery Speedboat, and graceful Sailboat, but no one pays much mind to quiet and dependable Ferry. She tries to emulate her water-bound companions, but Ferry’s not really made to be anything other than she is – but how can she make a splash if she was built to be slow and steady?

A very cute affirmation of the value in unique talents. As readers might guess, while her companions may have flashier attributes, Ferry’s patience and dependability, as well as her courage, end up saving the day. It’s a classic if well-worn plot, but Otis’s well-paced story and charming nautical illustrations give it a fresh twist. I particularly loved the visual of a red-hatted child playing with model ships, which readers might miss on the first read-through yet pays off beautifully on the final page. The length is fine for a storytime, and JJ enjoyed this one a lot. Overall, a lovely little tale of self-acceptance, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)