This Is the Boat That Ben Built

PreS-Gr 1–Bailey’s debut puts an ecological spin on “This Is the House That Jack Built,” in a cumulative tale of a boy exploring a northern river ecosystem. Dark-haired, fair-skinned Ben heads downstream in his very own boat. Safety first as Ben, as well as the grown-up and dog watching from shore, wears a life vest, even though Ben sails solo. This is a simple and gentle introduction to northern wildlife. Young readers may not know what a loon is, but the illustrations and text make it clear that it is a waterfowl. As all the other creatures have been relatively small and non-threatening, the introduction of a black bear may be a bit startling to readers, although neither Ben nor his watchful companions are bothered. All is peaceful and calm until an owl hoots and sets off a chaotic chain reaction. No harm is done to any creature (except perhaps the fish that ends up in the boat) and then the watchful grown-up and dog board the boat. Zeng balances stylized realism with cuddliness in the creatures she depicts; cool, dreamy blues and green hues put readers in mind of a late spring or early summer day. Back matter includes details about river ecosystems and the animals that appear in the book.