Does Anyone Know Any Good Children's Sailing Books ?

[Drifter33]

I always keep my eyes open for children's books about sailing. My daughter is now 5 and an avid reader, but I can never find many sailing books. Does anyone have any reccomendations? The few we have on sailing she enjoys reading and I would like to find more.

Thanks,
Nick

[boatman61]

The Famous Five...
not exactly sailing and 50's setting but lotsa messin about in boats...

[Mimsy]

If you can find a copy (its out of print) Buoy by Bruce Balan. We received it as a gift and it is such a beautiful, beautiful book. Just superb.

Edited to add:http://brucebalan.com/buoy.htm Saw a few used copies at Amazon- I would grab one!

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Drifter,

IMO the best ever youngster's books about sailing were written by Arthur Ransome. The first one is called "Swallows and Amazons" and concerns the adventures of a group of British kids sailing and camping in a lake in England. The following eleven books follow their adventures as they grow up, and eventually take on ocean passages. It is technically accurate (albeit a bit dated, since they start in pre-WWII years). They are even good reads for an adult who still has a bit of kid in them.

Amazon has many if not all of them in stock... it's a good idea to read them in order if you can.

Cheers,

Jim

[Weyalan]

+1 vote for the Swallows and Amazons series as mentioned by Jim, above.

[callmecrazy]

5 might be a little young for this book, but "A sailors Life" by Jan de Hartog (1956), is my favorite book, ever. It's basically written for young boys wishing to go to sea, but it's really awesome. it's not 'cute' or anything, very realistic, but it puts the sailors life in a perspective a young person can understand. Its centered around 'sailors' in the age of working sailboats. Hartog was a sea captain before becoming a writer...

Be warned, this book may cause children to run away to sea ... as De Hartog puts it, "Once a boy begins to dream of the sea, he is ruined for life".

Buy it, review it first, then give to her whenever you feel she's ready. It's well worth it.

[callmecrazy]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

G'Day Drifter,

IMO the best ever youngster's books about sailing were written by Arthur Ransome. The first one is called "Swallows and Amazons" and concerns the adventures of a group of British kids sailing and camping in a lake in England. The following eleven books follow their adventures as they grow up, and eventually take on ocean passages. It is technically accurate (albeit a bit dated, since they start in pre-WWII years). They are even good reads for an adult who still has a bit of kid in them.

Amazon has many if not all of them in stock... it's a good idea to read them in order if you can.

Cheers,

Jim

Swallows and Amazons was also made into a movie. It's a wonderful classic, black and white, beatufilly written and well played. Hard to find...

[Drifter33]

Thanks for all of the ideas! I just ordered Buoy and Swallows and Amazons. We'll see how she does with these. She is currently making the leap into chapter books, so I think these will both work well for her. I'll let everyone know if she enjoys. (Or if I do.)

Thanks,
Nick

[Richard Jordan]

Scuppers the Sailor Dog!

http://www.amazon.com/Sailor-Dog-Lit.../dp/0307001431

I'm Scuppers the Sailor Dog--
I can sail in a gale
right over a whale
under full sail
in a fog.

[GeoPowers]

Originally Posted by Richard Jordan

Scuppers the Sailor Dog!

http://www.amazon.com/Sailor-Dog-Lit.../dp/0307001431

I'm Scuppers the Sailor Dog--
I can sail in a gale
right over a whale
under full sail
in a fog.

My kids love this book. A classic, although one would hope that scuppers eventually learned the value of keeping a proper lookout! Lol...

[Cptn Happy]

Jimmy Buffett wrote a delightfrul book for his daughter, titled "Jolly Mon" I think. Great story and illustrations-perfect for a five year old.

[Cormorant]

Also get a copy of Robb White's "The Lion's Paw." Like the Swallows and Amazons series, it's something you would read out loud to a 5-year-old rather than her read it herself.

I have indelible memories of my wife reading these books to our daughters while we all lay in our berths on gentle evenings, or foggy mornings off Cape Cod, with water lapping at the hull.

Later in life they can revisit the books by themselves and they'll find that the story is embedded in their DNA.

[Entlie]

Captains Courageous - a great read aloud book, our grandson loved it when he was 5. Another ditto for Swallows and Amazons. And Carry On Mr. Bowditch is a wonderful book for children and grownups alike.

Entlie
Sailing Catamaran Sungpot Baby

[zeehag]

my brother read swiss family robinson at age 5 or thereabouts, and moby dick when he was 6. kon tiki when he was 7 or 8.

[Drifter33]

Originally Posted by GeoPowers

My kids love this book. A classic, although one would hope that scuppers eventually learned the value of keeping a proper lookout! Lol...

Scuppers the Sailing Dog is actually the book that made me start this thread. Very young kids may enjoy it, but I found it to be written poorly and to be too repetitive. The saying 'don't judge a book by its cover' was true in this case.