Lily Leads the Way

"With decks scrubbed, lines coiled, brass gleaming, flags flying, and sails puffed out proudly," writes Preus (The Littlest Voyageur), a tall-masted but diminutive sailboat, Lily, is eager to leave the harbor and greet "a fleet of grand old tall ships" on the open waters of the lake. "Meee-me? Meee-me?" pleads Lily's little horn to the huge lift bridge, which must raise before she can leave the harbor. But much bigger boats--including a behemoth ore boat and a coast guard cutter--push right past Lily and swamp her in their wake: "OOHHH-pen, OOHHH-pen" sound the biggest boats' horns, to which the bridge dutifully responds "OOOHHH-kay. OOOHHH-kay"). Still, Lily persists, righting herself, slipping out under the bridge "just before it goes down again"--and ensuring that the flotilla makes it past the bridge and into the harbor. Myers's (Hum and Swish) lusciously brush-stroked oil illustrations combine anthropomorphism (Lily's deckhouse windows are a pair of bright, eager eyes), marine-scapes with purple-blue waters and creamy foam, and up-close action that's tense but never scary. Whether readers are old salts or landlubbers, they'll want to pipe this one aboard. An author's note discusses the story's beginnings in a real Great Lakes bridge. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (May)