Scuffy the Tugboat

Meant for "bigger things," Scuffy the Tugboat leaves the man with the polka-dot tie and his little boy and sets off to explore the world. But on his daring adventure down the river, Scuffy realizes that home is where he'd rather be, sailing in his bathtub.

Scuffy the tugboat is not happy or content with sitting on a shelf in a toy store. So he takes off looking for bigger and better things in the ocean. While on his adventure, he realizes that he would much rather be back safe on his shelf in the toy store or floating in a bathtub.

I loved Little Golden Books when I was little, and was so happy to see them back in print. In this quest story, Scuffy is a hubristic toy tugboat, who, unsatisfied with life on the toy shop owner's shelf, sets off on a journey on a great river that takes him along towns, bridges, waterwheels and more. But when he gets to the sea, he realizes he would like nothing more than to be safe on the shelf of his toyshop or sailing the bathtub. The book has an improbable plot, as somehow the toy shop owner is there to pick him up just before he is swept out to see, but has a good lesson for children: there's no place like home (hmmm, where have I heard that before?) The classic illustrations, a mixture of watercolor and ink, will appeal to show more children with their detail and liveliness. The story, however, doesn't really need the illustrations. For ages 5-8. show less

"Scuffy the Tugboat and His Adventures Down the River" by Gertrude Crampton, has themes of adventure, comfort, and family.

This story teaches lessons about longing for adventure, and needing to feel secure with family. Scuffy dreams of bigger and better, when he is at a toy store. He is then brought to a family's home, and dreams for a larger pond. When he is brought to the pond, he ventures further and further until he realizes that bigger is not always better, and he longs for his family and tub.

I think this story is great to teach children to follow their dreams, but family is also important. Even if you decide to venture out into the world, family will be waiting for you at home.

Scuffy the Tugboat sat on a shelf until the man with the polka dot tie took him down because Scuffy told him he was made for bigger things. The man took him out to a brook where Scuffy tugged away downstream away from the man with the polka dot tie and his son. Scuffy at first thought that it was great until things started happening that frightened Scuffy. At the end of the book when he makes it back he realizes that he just needs to be able to tug in a bath tub not in a big river.

Scuffy the Tugboat is good book that shows sometimes you should not always ask for more. I remember when my mom use to read this book to me before I went to bed at night.

In the classroom I will have the students draw a picture of a time when they thought they show more wanted bigger and realized they did not. show less

This is a cute little story about Scuffy, a toy tugboat, who believes hes meant for bigger and better things. When a bathtub does not satisfy his need for adventure, Scuffy is taken to a river where he take off in search of his adventure. Scuffy eventually realizes that he is lonely and the sea is no place for him and returns back to his bathtub where he happily sails from end to end.

Scuffy the Tugboat sets off to explore the world feeling like he's meant for "bigger things." His journey down the river evokes varying emotions, and eventually he realizes home in the bathtub is where he belongs! Fun! I would use this book in a first grade classroom maybe when we are learning about dealing with the feeling of what we want compared to what we have.