Lily Leads the Way

A little sailboat has a big burst of determination when a fleet of tall ships needs assistance.

Lily Leads the Way follows Lily the sailboat, small but sturdy, navigating a harbour brimming with enormous cargo ships, speedy fishing vessels, and bossy tugboats—all with somewhere important to be. Despite their gruff demands of "Out of my way, Lily!", she too has her destination. The tall ships are coming to the lake!

To pass from the harbour to the lake, Lily needs to blow her horn and request the lift bridge to rise—"Meee-me?" But the big vessels’ blasts are overwhelmingly louder, pushing her aside and rocking her with waves. Yet, determinedly, Lily slips under just before the bridge lowers, her sails fluttering with excitement at the sight of the majestic barquentine, schooner, and other grand old ships approaching the now-lowered bridge. Silently, how will the bridge know to rise? Can Lily save the day?

This tale of plucky persistence is illustrated with the splash and sparkle of a summer day on the water, sure to empower any child to take charge when the time is right. Included is a note from the author, a Newbery Honoree, providing additional facts about bridges and boats for curious readers.