|
Review
 by
Louella Moreland
Thomas Docherty's picture book "Little Boat" touches readers with text,
color, motion and heart. It is a small volume that speaks with a tiny GIANT
voice. How can it be both? "Little Boat" is a well-crafted story. Each page,
each word, each emotion is set on the paper for a specific purpose.
Just like Docherty's tiny boat that is pictured in the middle of a large
expanse of blue ocean, readers can see themselves as a small speck in the
scheme of a large world. Children can identify easily with this concept.
Everyone and everything about them must seem enormous to their eyes and tiny
bodies. Large objects, emptiness or noises can at times be very frightening,
especially when they are on their own, venturing into a new space.
Doucherty's little boat travels that same path into the unknown, battling
large waves, storms and dangers. He is in search of something, and along the
way he finds friends who make his journey one of joy and adventure. No
longer lonely, he gains the confidence to set forth into the world and "sail
on because now no ocean is too big … for a little boat like me."
What a great message for children! Mr. Docherty delivers it in such a
quiet way, through tremendous illustrations and text, giving readers a GIANT
support for their own journeys.
[to top of second column] |
As with all truly appropriate illustrations in children's books,
the pictures not only reflect the text, but actually become a part
of it. Words are small, large, curving and capitalized as needed to
express story elements. Each blue-washed page transports the reader
into a watery world of movement that seems to dwarf the little boat
as he valiantly struggles on. The little boat himself, with his two
porthole "eyes," displays a range of emotion from fear to happiness
to contentment.
Docherty uses perspective in many ways to capture the essence of
the story. One spread is from the sky looking down through clouds at
the little boat ringed by a group of dolphins and whales. Another
two-page spread, with a cross section of ocean above and below the
surface, shouts of the fun the boat and his friends are having. Even
the cover of the book tantalizes readers from the perspective of the
little boat shown through a cut-out porthole!
This is a picture book that at first glance is just a story about
a little boat. With each rereading, we must acknowledge it is much
more than that. It is a small book with a large message about life.
It deserves to be read, shared and cherished as the treasure it is.
Come in and experience it yourself. It can be found in the youth
services section at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St.
[Text from file received from
Louella Moreland,
Lincoln Public Library District]
(Ms. Lou's blog:
lincolnpubliclibraryupdates.blogspot.com)
 |
