Ferry Tail

This book’s clever title, Ferry Tail, foreshadows a clever and unique plot centered on a dog protagonist who lives aboard a ferry. The story is chock full of felicity, as we observe Walter enjoying a dog’s life interacting with the passengers and crew. And I appreciated the subtle unconventional choice of having the ship’s engineer be a woman.

The ink and watercolor illustrations exhibit a humor and softness that makes them just right for this gentle tale. The story has emotions, both joy and sorrow, and they are aptly reflected in the artwork. The artist uses multiple small images on one page to effectively increase the pace.

Being a dog lover myself, I was all too ready to accept the premise that Cupcake the spoiled cat was up to no good. Ferry Tail tugs on the reader’s heartstrings as Walter is frustrated by Cupcake supplanting him in his daily chores. The tension builds as Walter goes ashore, gets yelled at by strangers (despite his good intentions), and becomes lost. Without spoiling the denouement, suffice it to say that the book offers a surprising and satisfying ending.