Little Tug

by Stephen Savage, Steven Savage (Illustrator)

Overview

Little Tug may not be very tall or very fast, but when the big ships in the harbor need help, they know they can count on him to be there with a push, a pull, and a ride to safety. But what happens when Little Tug gets tired?

This simple, endearing book with a charming retro feel and an emotional punch is the first book for Roaring Brook Press by the acclaimed author of Polar Bear Night (New York Times Best Illustrated book) and Where's Walrus?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466818279
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	10/02/2012
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	2 - 6 Years

About the Author

Stephen Savage is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling picture book Polar Bear Night, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated children's book. He is also the creator of Where's Walrus?, which was the recipient of three starred reviews. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.

Stephen Savage is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling picture book Polar Bear Night, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated children's book. He is also the creator of Where's Walrus?, which was the recipient of three starred reviews. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.
Steven Savage is a biologist, natural history writer, lecturer, and an associate member of the Institute of Biology in England. He teaches about ocean biology and has written more than thirty-seven natural history books for children.

Editorial Reviews

When a bedtime book reveals its true nature halfway through a story about something other than sleep, children can feel tricked as plot gives way to purpose. But to his credit, Savage nicely patterns Little Tug's bedtime ritual with what has come before: the tall ship tucks him in with a sail, the speedboat hums a lullaby, the ocean liner gives him a hug. Savage's artwork gives the boats just the right combination of realism and personality…With just 100 words, including the title, this book is a good one for last call, as any demand to "read it again" can be easily satisfied.
—Roger Sutton

The New York Times Book Review

Readers who love ships can expect smooth sailing.” —Publishers Weekly

“...will appeal to boat-loving toddlers.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Petite but powerful, the small red tug feels a sense of accomplishment during the day but still enjoys being pampered at bedtime. Large type, simple sentences, and repetition offer a pleasing story line and showcase the appealing illustrations.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Graphically spiffy and textually brief, this exploration of an anthropomorphic harbor tugboat's working role tacks on a maudlin shtick in the final quarter. Savage's crisp pictures clearly compare Little Tug's height, speed and length to those of a tall ship, a speedboat and an ocean liner. Despite these obvious shortcomings, Tug helps all three maneuver safely when needed. Young children will likewise navigate through the broadly stylized images of city skyline, water reflections and ships, some of which sport eyes and mouths. An odd divergence, however, appears with the line "What happens when Little Tug tires out?" The story shifts from fact-based narrative to coy bedtime riff, ending with Little Tug being tucked in with a sail from the tall ship, soothed with the speedboat motor's lullaby and receiving, from the big ocean liner, "a great big-- / hug." Though this cute-but-mighty tug's strengths are oddly undercut by the syrupy gear-switch at the end, the bright, attractive pictures will appeal to boat-loving toddlers. (Picture book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews