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Tug: A Log Boom's Journey
From award-winning author and illustrator Scot Ritchie comes this lively look at the journey of a West Coast tugboat towing a log boom, as seen through the eyes of a young boy.
"I’m helping Dad on the tugboat. We’re going to tow a log boom to the sawmill on the river… I look out for ferries and other boats in the harbor… Then I see it — a deadhead!"
Follow a child and his father through their workday on a tugboat on the West Coast as they watch a log boom being made, then tow it to a mill upriver. The pair must steer clear of other ships, race against the tide and weather a storm along the way.
Told from a child's perspective, this fun, accessible picture book explores the key role of a tugboat in the logging process. As explained in the author's note, the story is inspired by Scot Ritchie’s childhood memories of seeing tugs and log booms off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia, with additional information provided in the note about forestry on the West Coast today.
"I’m helping Dad on the tugboat. We’re going to tow a log boom to the sawmill on the river… I look out for ferries and other boats in the harbor… Then I see it — a deadhead!"
Follow a child and his father through their workday on a tugboat on the West Coast as they watch a log boom being made, then tow it to a mill upriver. The pair must steer clear of other ships, race against the tide and weather a storm along the way.
Told from a child's perspective, this fun, accessible picture book explores the key role of a tugboat in the logging process. As explained in the author's note, the story is inspired by Scot Ritchie’s childhood memories of seeing tugs and log booms off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia, with additional information provided in the note about forestry on the West Coast today.
- GenresPicture BooksTransport
40 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 2, 2022
Great for curious kids who have noticed the tugs hauling a zillion logs. Cute illustrations, Belcarra and Lions Gate Bridge mentions.
October 12, 2025
(Age: 2.5) O picked this one out himself. He's very interested in boating and logging operations, and this combined the two in an informative look at how logs are transported on waterways. Plus, it's local! It reminded me of lazy afternoons while kayak camping as I watched the log booms float by. This was a nice glimpse through a child's eyes as they help their father in a job most of us will never experience.
April 12, 2022
A beautiful book about out tug boats transferred large amount of logs from the ocean to paper mills by the rivers.
Defiantly a book everyone should read because majority of every coastally state contributed to logging.
Maine especially.
Defiantly a book everyone should read because majority of every coastally state contributed to logging.
Maine especially.
Want to read
November 23, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
September 3, 2022
A simple child-friendly story of a tugboat creating and towing a log boom. Glossary and author's note included.
Recommended for transportation or ocean vehicle storytime.
Recommended for transportation or ocean vehicle storytime.
November 25, 2022
This was an interesting look into a very different way of life.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews