Michael Garland lived on Staten Island. The ferry was no stranger to Michael as he took it often to tour New York. From this love of travel by boat comes Garland’s picture book, Ferry Boat.
Summary
This book is written in the first-person narrative, which gives kids the opportunity to take a ferry ride with Michael. And that is exactly what the author does within the pages of his book.
Readers learn how to board the ferry as well as how to appreciate the sites in Garland’s picture book. There is even a portion of the story dedicated to whales and their endangerment. The author is sure not to place too much emphasis on the disappearance of the sea creatures. He does, however, shed light on the matter so that kids understand that whales used to take the route of the Staten Island Ferry.
Boarding the Ferry
One aspect of this book that stands out most to me is the care the author puts into teaching kids how to board a ferry. Michael Garland does not speed past the boarding process. He instead devotes several pages to the act of getting on the ferry. This allows kids to learn something new.
Sites and Things
Learning new things is truly spread throughout Ferry Boat. The author introduces young readers to the Statue of Liberty and other significant sites while taking them on his ferry ride. Garland also emphasizes the sites he highlights throughout the story at the end of the book so young readers can reflect on what they learned.
Who Is This For?
Ferry Boat by Michael Garland is a good option for storytime as well as a great choice for children just getting into the beauty of reading on their own. There are just enough words on each page to make young readers feel challenged.