A New Children’s Picture Book Celebrates Friendship, Kindness, and Life on the Ranch.
The Adventures of Tugboat and Friends by Cindy Meredith invites young readers into a heartwarming farmyard world!
Parents and educators looking for meaningful, engaging stories for young children have a new title to add to their bookshelves. The Adventures of Tugboat and Friends, a children’s picture book by author Cindy Meredith, introduces readers ages 3–8 to Tugboat, a lovable donkey living on a Texas ranch, and the gentle lessons he learns about friendship, responsibility, and helping others.
Set on Rafter M Ranch, the story follows Tugboat and his animal companions, Tank, Pancho, Lefty, and Pedro, as they navigate everyday ranch life together. Through simple adventures and warm interactions, children are introduced to core social-emotional themes such as empathy, teamwork, resilience, and belonging.
Designed with both families and classrooms in mind, The Adventures of Tugboat and Friends supports early childhood learning by encouraging discussion around kindness, community, and caring for animals. The story’s accessible language and engaging illustrations make it well-suited for read- alouds, independent exploration, and classroom story time.
Educators will find the book especially useful for farm-animal units, social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons, and early literacy development. Parents and caregivers will appreciate its wholesome storytelling and positive values, making it a natural fit for bedtime reading and home libraries.
“Children connect deeply with animals, and Tugboat’s story offers a gentle way to talk about friendship and helping others,” said Meredith. “It’s about showing kids that everyone has a role to play and that kindness matters, even in the smallest moments.”
The Adventures of Tugboat and Friends is available in paperback across Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Books, Waterstones & more, and is published by Black Stone Publishers.
Book Details:
Title: The Adventures of Tugboat and Friends
Author: Cindy Meredith
Audience: Ages 3–8
Themes: Friendship, kindness, farm animals, teamwork, social-emotional learning
Format: Picture book, 32 pages
Availability: Amazon and select retailers
For more information, review copies, or interview requests, please contact Cindy at
