Preus, Margi. Lily Leads the Way. Matt Myers, Illustrator. Harper, 05/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-1403-1.
Lily, a small sailboat, wants to see a fleet of tall ships (three-masted sailing ships) as they sail past her harbor. However, the lift bridge doesn’t hear her small horn saying “Meeee? Meeee?” only the loud, low blasts of the big ships as they push her out of the way. The oil on illustration board artwork shows the effort Lily puts into her adventure, the difficulties 162 tiny Lily faces, and how she manages to succeed in the face of adversity. Young readers may connect with this tale of smallness being overwhelmed by those who are much larger. This reviewer rarely sees ships as the protagonist, so this title stands out with its subject matter and presentation of continuing to try until one succeeds.
Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library