Book review

Title/Author/Publisher

Sailing Home. A story of a childhood at sea.  By Gloria Rand & Ted Rand/NorthSouth Books

If there is one book that you might give a young child to inspire them to yearn going to sea, this is the one. It is based on a remarkable true story about four children growing up aboard a four-masted, cargo-carrying bark. They traveled the world aboard their home with their farmyard in tow.  It is told from the children’s perspective based on a journal written by their father, the captain, and one of the daughters.  The beautifully crafted illustrations bring their world to light, as life rolls back and forth across the decks. (Ages 4 and up, hardcover now, softcover available Sept 06)

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and other sea monsters by Robert Sabuda & Matthew Reinhart/Candlewick

This is a captivating and hugely entertaining pop-up book.  It explores the prehistoric undersea world, where monster sharks, giant seas scorpions, and colossal squid cruised the oceans while dinosaurs ruled the land. It might be a little delicate for little fingers, but it will certainly get the imagination juices flowing.  It’s a nice twist to prehistorica to look beneath the seas.

Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion.
by William Captain Lubber, Dugald A. Steer/Candlewick

For those of you who have seen Dragonology and the other ‘Ologies’, you will immediately rush out and buy this book, whether for your kids or yourself.  It is simply an extraordinary find for pirateologists everywhere; here is a complete companion for the dedicated pirate hunter. It reveals heretofore hidden knowledge of the lore of pirate ships, weapons, dress, customs, codes, and pirate routes. A long-lost sea chest, hidden for hundreds of years off the coast of Newfoundland , has just been uncovered, and in it was the fascinating eighteenth-century journal of Captain William Lubber, who sailed the seas in search of the wickedly-daring female pirate Arabella Drummond. A tale of the golden age of piracy — from storm-tossed seas to tantalizing treasure islands, from pirates’ flags and fashions to their deadly weapons and wicked ways.

Special treasures include:

• a working compass
• treasure map with a missing piece for the clever reader to find
• flaps, maps, charts, and booklets harboring codes and clues
• intricate drawings of ships’ interiors
• a packet of gold dust
• a pocket sundial
• a cache of pirate letters, pieces of eight and a glittering gem as a final reward

(ages 4 to 8 as well as the rest of us who live in Neverland) (Hardcover)

The Pirates of the Caribbean story was written by RH Disney!

Disney created a number of books featuring photographs from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. These picture books are best for bedtime reading for young children. The books are loosely based on the movie and each tell a part of the story:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - The Curse of Davy Jones is a 24-page picture book zeroing in on Jack Sparrow's deal with Davy Jones. The agreement was that Jack could be the captain of his own ship, but in return Davy Jones would get Jack's soul.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: Swann Song is a 24-page picture book telling the story of Elizabeth Swann. She wants to save Jack from Davy Jones, but she must escape the ship's crew and solve the mystery of the compass to do it.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - The Chase Is on is a 32-page picture book featuring Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and Elizabeth Swann. This is mostly about the famous race/chase between Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones.

Pirates by John Matthews/Atheneum

The ultimate book of pirates is here! Inside is the stuff of legend, where tales of adventure and intrigue are written in blood. Read about Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. Learn about walking the plank and buried treasure. Discover life as a pirate from a strict code of conduct to the punishments that awaited those that broke them. This lavish hardcover package is jam packed with fact and fiction, pirate lore, and amazing memorabilia, including:

• a booklet of pirate slang
• a genuine ad to recruit pirates
• a booklet of pirate biographies
• a letter from William the III to Captain Kidd
• a pullout featuring pirate weapons
• a treasure map
• a wanted poster for Blackbeard
• sample playing cards
• as well as flaps and fold outs galore! (Ages 4-8)

You wouldn’t want to sail on the Mayflower. by Peter Cook & Kevin Whelan/Scholastic

You are young pilgrim girl on a trip that took entirely too long in 1620. She learns all about the captain and crew, the other passengers, about the deck in a storm, about picking a place for the colony, and about making friends with the Indians who can help you stay alive!  A treasure of a book. (Grades 2-5, hardback, available in paperback Sep 06)

Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter. A math adventure.  By Cindy Neuschwander & Wayne Geehan/ Charlesbridge

This is not a book for everyone, yet if you have a budding mathematician in your fold, try it.  It’s the story of a young girl, Per,  who is taught a game of Inners and Edges by her cousin Radius. This knowledge allows her to solve the riddle of the abandoned castle of the Countess Areana and to lay claim to the  title as Lady Per of Immeter.  They named the ‘perimeter’ after her.  We found some of this story a bit forced and Sir Cumference plays such a minor part.  Yet, we have to applaud the effort to present a young girl as a heroine who likes math!

Blackbeard the Pirate King by J. Patrick Lewis

National Geographic Children’s book.

The strong point of this book is the illustration of the stories via a collection of paintings of this infamous pirate who inspired artists the likes of N.C.Wyeth  throughout the ages. There is text that describes each scene in the paintings and in this way chronicles the pirate’s life story.  Alongside is the story in verse created by the author. Hours of exercise for the imagination! This children’s version accompanies the adult book and BBC-National Geographic DVD listed below.

Blackbeard: The Real Pirate of the Caribbean by Dan Perry

National Geographic Adult version.

“This book accompanies a multimillion-dollar BBC-National Geographic drama that explores the reality of the man behind the beard. Far from the caricature of films and novels, Blackbeard was a complex character who was as charming as he was ruthless. The atrocities he indulged in, and how they eventually proved to be his undoing, are here explored through a fresh appraisal of surviving contemporary documents.” From amazon.com.(Paperback - Jun 28, 2006 )

Blackbeard - Terror at Sea by (DVD)

BBC-National Geographic Dramatization

“Go inside the cunning mind of a charming criminal genius as National Geographic tells the dramatic story of this fearsome pirate who preyed on Caribbean trade routes. Blackbeard: Terror at Sea charts the exploits of Englishman Edward Teach, an intelligent and charismatic leader who confounded the powers of England and Virginia as he overtook and pillaged 40 ships in two years, stealing hidden cargo and precious exports to and from the Caribbean . Featuring sea chases, cannon battles and swordplay Blackbeard: Terror at Sea provides an exciting dramatization of one of the most notorious men in American history.” From Amazon.com