Book Review: The Ballad of Billy McFee
The Ballad of Billy McFee: A sea shanty to read or sing by Ruby Mosher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This sweet little story will amuse a child while gently teaching them a few valuable life-lessons.
Our hero, Billy McFee, is a determined, cheery little fish that has a goal. He wants to sail a sunken ship that’s stuck in the muck of the ocean floor. As he struggles to pull the ship free, he’s heckled by two clams who think his efforts are useless, while a little crab sits in a cozy nook made of kelp and reads books. The titles add amusement to the whole situation.
The clams remind me a lot of The Muppet Show’s Statler and Waldorf. The clams have their own storyline running concurrently with Billy’s story. I don’t think children will have any trouble following along with both storylines, though.
Parents may end up reading this story on repeat if their child bonds with it. Be prepared for lots of shanty singing!
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
