Scout the Mighty Tugboat

by Charles Beyl, Charles Beyl (Illustrator)

Overview

Scout is strong. Is she strong enough to ask for help?

Chug, chug, chug. Scout the tugboat spends her days chugging through the bright blue water, pulling and pushing ships into port and out to sea, all by herself. But when an oil tanker is too heavy for Scout to pull alone, she learns that friends are always willing to help—and it's okay to ask them! With playful repetition and simple text, this charming story introduces readers to the classic theme of helping others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807572658
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD630L (what's this?)
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Charles Beyl lives in Sugar Land, Texas, where he writes stories, creates humorous illustrations and cartoons, and keeps an eye out for snakes and alligators. When he is not in his studio, you can find him teaching college students, riding his bike, or playing with his amazing grandchildren.

Editorial Reviews

"This cozy maritime tale offers just enough mild thrills…a tiny tug…on the heartstrings."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2020-06-30
A perky little tug puts her brawn, and brains, to good use.

“[C]hugging through the waves on the bright blue water,” a little tugboat named Scout starts her day. Whether it’s a container ship, a cruise ship, or a freighter, she’s always there to help. But what’s this? A massive oil tanker’s engine has failed, and it’s headed toward the rocks. Scout tries to help, but the scope of the endeavor overwhelms her. Eschewing the go-it-alone attitude of the Little Engine That Could, Scout realizes that this is one job too big. She calls upon her fellow tugs to lend a hand, showing that sometimes it takes a crew. No doubt young fans of things that float will find much to enjoy, as this cozy maritime tale offers just enough mild thrills to excite without alarm. Adult readers will probably feel even more keenly than their children the danger posed by the drifting oil tanker (particularly when they notice the dolphins, the pelican, the gull, the fish, and even the rather small whale that also inhabit the harbor). They may also note with pleasure that the book’s gendered ships are always identified as female, in keeping with nautical convention. The unchallenging cartoon art featuring anthropomorphic boats pleases without surprising.

A tiny tug…on the heartstrings. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews