OK. My 5 year old loves to go sailing. He also loves to have me read books to him. Now that he is getting older he is less dependant on "picture books" and enjoys adventure books that I read to him. So my question is: are there any good books about sasiling adventures that you'd recommend? (yes, I tried the archives) Thanks in advance!
- Status
Kids sailing books
West Marine has a good selection. At this time of the year-keep an eye out for sales....
West Marine has a good selection. At this time of the year-keep an eye out for sales....
oh the classics.....
Definitely the 'Sinbad the Sailor' stories Treasure Island The chapters in Huckleberry Finn when he and Jim were rafting on the river. ...so many. I can still remember reading and listening to those when I was 6 or 7 years old. hmmmmm, maybe that's why I...... it's so great to hear that some parent cares enough now a days to actually read or encourage hteir kid to read! Way to go!
Definitely the 'Sinbad the Sailor' stories Treasure Island The chapters in Huckleberry Finn when he and Jim were rafting on the river. ...so many. I can still remember reading and listening to those when I was 6 or 7 years old. hmmmmm, maybe that's why I...... it's so great to hear that some parent cares enough now a days to actually read or encourage hteir kid to read! Way to go!
Henry the sailing cat...
There is a series of books for young readers about a precocious cat named Henry. Henry, who is hated by his owners father, gets into all sorts of scrapes, and manages to escape by cross country skiing, tight-rope walking etc. In one of the last of the series, Henry stows away on the owners sailboat, and with the son, saves the fathers life. It is written on a level of a first to second grade reader, nicely illustrated, and was a favorite present from one of my husbands colleagues, who knew we were sailors with a young son. If you are interested, I will dig through our box of outgrown books for the authors name. You brought back a lot of good memories with your query.
There is a series of books for young readers about a precocious cat named Henry. Henry, who is hated by his owners father, gets into all sorts of scrapes, and manages to escape by cross country skiing, tight-rope walking etc. In one of the last of the series, Henry stows away on the owners sailboat, and with the son, saves the fathers life. It is written on a level of a first to second grade reader, nicely illustrated, and was a favorite present from one of my husbands colleagues, who knew we were sailors with a young son. If you are interested, I will dig through our box of outgrown books for the authors name. You brought back a lot of good memories with your query.
The Wanderer
Check out: The Wanderer by Charon Creech. Wonderful book. My kids 5 and 8 loved it. So did we. Describes the journey of a group of people (3 adults, 3 kids) from the US to England. Also found this: http://www.sailingtexas.com/cbookchildren.html
Check out: The Wanderer by Charon Creech. Wonderful book. My kids 5 and 8 loved it. So did we. Describes the journey of a group of people (3 adults, 3 kids) from the US to England. Also found this: http://www.sailingtexas.com/cbookchildren.html
Tinkerbelle
Tinkerbelle by Robert Manry True story of Bob's crossing of the Atlantic in a 13' sailboat. This is the book I read back in the 1960s that fired my interest in sailing! I see a used copy available on alibris.com Good Reading!
Tinkerbelle by Robert Manry True story of Bob's crossing of the Atlantic in a 13' sailboat. This is the book I read back in the 1960s that fired my interest in sailing! I see a used copy available on alibris.com Good Reading!
my favorite
Scuppers the Sailor Dog My favorite. And the only book I ever kept. Still enjoy it at age 56. Terrific for a five year old. You'll love it too. Wonderful highly detailed drawings. Later on you can read him Treasure Island as I did to my son and his imagination will seek no bounds. And maybe he'll just then get a Phd. like my son.
Scuppers the Sailor Dog My favorite. And the only book I ever kept. Still enjoy it at age 56. Terrific for a five year old. You'll love it too. Wonderful highly detailed drawings. Later on you can read him Treasure Island as I did to my son and his imagination will seek no bounds. And maybe he'll just then get a Phd. like my son.
Swallows and Amazons
...by Arthur Ransome. Based on the principal you should use more advanced literature when reading to kids, this should be about right. Or will be in a year or so. And if you haven't read the series yourself, you're in for a treat.
...by Arthur Ransome. Based on the principal you should use more advanced literature when reading to kids, this should be about right. Or will be in a year or so. And if you haven't read the series yourself, you're in for a treat.
Surprised
Surprised no one has mentioned Wind in the Willows. It's not only about sailing, which can be a good thing for a 5 year-old. It breaks down into lots of short chapters for a session each night, and there are lots of different characters, each of whom should get a suitable voice if you are reading it aloud to your son. There's also the Disney video, though it's not as good as the book since it leaves less to the imagination. Tintin books - such as Red Rhackhams (sp?) Treasure - can also be lots of fun if you can put up with the dated stereotypes and comic book format.
Surprised no one has mentioned Wind in the Willows. It's not only about sailing, which can be a good thing for a 5 year-old. It breaks down into lots of short chapters for a session each night, and there are lots of different characters, each of whom should get a suitable voice if you are reading it aloud to your son. There's also the Disney video, though it's not as good as the book since it leaves less to the imagination. Tintin books - such as Red Rhackhams (sp?) Treasure - can also be lots of fun if you can put up with the dated stereotypes and comic book format.
It might be a stretch but I think it would be fun..
There is a book called "My old man and the sea." A father and a son sail through the big cut(Panama canal)then to Galapagos Islands then down to Christmas Island and around the Horn. It is a fun book because the logs of the father and the son are overwritten so that you get a feel for both individuals in the same point of time. It would be fun to follow the trip on a chart or globe and it would give you a chance to explain things that might bring you and your son closer. This would be good to read again at about 10 or 12 years old. Have him read it to you. Mine are all grown and I wish I would have started the sailing theme early. Hence, no sailors 0 for 5 kids. Young kids are smarter than you think and before 10 years old they will ask their own questions. from then on they tend to be worried about what their friends are asking. r.w.landau
There is a book called "My old man and the sea." A father and a son sail through the big cut(Panama canal)then to Galapagos Islands then down to Christmas Island and around the Horn. It is a fun book because the logs of the father and the son are overwritten so that you get a feel for both individuals in the same point of time. It would be fun to follow the trip on a chart or globe and it would give you a chance to explain things that might bring you and your son closer. This would be good to read again at about 10 or 12 years old. Have him read it to you. Mine are all grown and I wish I would have started the sailing theme early. Hence, no sailors 0 for 5 kids. Young kids are smarter than you think and before 10 years old they will ask their own questions. from then on they tend to be worried about what their friends are asking. r.w.landau
A Viking story
When she was young my daughter enjoyed, among many others, a book titled "Dragon Prows Westward". It was historical fiction concerning the first landing in North America by Leif Ericson. It dealt with their conflicts with the natives ("Skralings") and described some of the hardships of the voyage. Another great bed-time book for kids is Paddle-to-the-Sea. It was a Newberry Award winner, I believe. Not about sailing, per se, but plenty of water travel (through the Great Lakes) and very educational.
When she was young my daughter enjoyed, among many others, a book titled "Dragon Prows Westward". It was historical fiction concerning the first landing in North America by Leif Ericson. It dealt with their conflicts with the natives ("Skralings") and described some of the hardships of the voyage. Another great bed-time book for kids is Paddle-to-the-Sea. It was a Newberry Award winner, I believe. Not about sailing, per se, but plenty of water travel (through the Great Lakes) and very educational.
When they get a little older (maybe 12)
get 'em " First You Have to Row a Little Boat" Good for adults too
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446670030/qid=1134099779/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-6831984-4786338?n=507846&s=books&v=glance
get 'em " First You Have to Row a Little Boat" Good for adults too
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446670030/qid=1134099779/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-6831984-4786338?n=507846&s=books&v=glance
Kids Sailing Books
Besides some of the ones mentioned, our 5 and 7 yr old liked " Little Gray Mouse Goes Sailing" and "Little Rat Sets Sail". The first is about a mouse that climbs aboard a model sailboat and sails and the other is about a rat that takes sailing lessons. The kids learn sailboat terms right along with little rat. Each book only takes about 15-20 min. to read. We keep books on the boat and read before the kids go to bed. One I read along time ago is Kon Tiki, it's about a guy who crosses the pacific on a raft. I can't remember if it would be good for a 5yr old.
Besides some of the ones mentioned, our 5 and 7 yr old liked " Little Gray Mouse Goes Sailing" and "Little Rat Sets Sail". The first is about a mouse that climbs aboard a model sailboat and sails and the other is about a rat that takes sailing lessons. The kids learn sailboat terms right along with little rat. Each book only takes about 15-20 min. to read. We keep books on the boat and read before the kids go to bed. One I read along time ago is Kon Tiki, it's about a guy who crosses the pacific on a raft. I can't remember if it would be good for a 5yr old.
rwLandau,
that book is for teens and adults, not for a 5-year old, who would be bored to tears, I think. Enyd Blighton's "We didn't mean to go to sea" might be just the ticket, if it can be found.
that book is for teens and adults, not for a 5-year old, who would be bored to tears, I think. Enyd Blighton's "We didn't mean to go to sea" might be just the ticket, if it can be found.
Good Stuff!
I just printed out the replies with a nice assortment of your recomendations. Thanks to all (& keep em' coming!) I found Henry the Sailing Cat at the library & my son loved it. I'm off to get my hands on the rest of the list!
I just printed out the replies with a nice assortment of your recomendations. Thanks to all (& keep em' coming!) I found Henry the Sailing Cat at the library & my son loved it. I'm off to get my hands on the rest of the list!
Captains Couragous
By Rutyard Kipling of Jungle Book fame. Maybe a little advanced but interesting and interesting for the adult also, I learned more about cod fishing than I really needed to know.
By Rutyard Kipling of Jungle Book fame. Maybe a little advanced but interesting and interesting for the adult also, I learned more about cod fishing than I really needed to know.
Windwalker, Don't be afraid to stretch your kids.
I have 5 and the youngest is 21. They are smarter than you think. Read a book before you read it to your child. It will help you make the points that need to be made. Chris, if your son would be bored, that is the failing of his upbringing. Sorry, but to much action and not enough depth in his life. Give him the depth, it will pay him and you back later!( I am not saying not to give him action, but get him involved! Please learn from my mistakes. At 10 they already know which way they are heading and it may not be the way you think.) We need to raise up our children. I say that meaning not to rely on someone else, say, the school or,life...., to raise your children. When you care about them, you will see it reflected in them. r.w.landau
I have 5 and the youngest is 21. They are smarter than you think. Read a book before you read it to your child. It will help you make the points that need to be made. Chris, if your son would be bored, that is the failing of his upbringing. Sorry, but to much action and not enough depth in his life. Give him the depth, it will pay him and you back later!( I am not saying not to give him action, but get him involved! Please learn from my mistakes. At 10 they already know which way they are heading and it may not be the way you think.) We need to raise up our children. I say that meaning not to rely on someone else, say, the school or,life...., to raise your children. When you care about them, you will see it reflected in them. r.w.landau
DO NOT READ THEM
A Mile Down. They will never sail with you again. Two Years Before The Mast. They will never wake up after you put them to sleep.
A Mile Down. They will never sail with you again. Two Years Before The Mast. They will never wake up after you put them to sleep.
An English Teacher's Age Recommendations
I have read The Wanderer, and it is delightful. I'd say 8yrs. old and up. The narrator is a young girl, and kids will identify with her sense of wonder about being out in the middle of the Atlantic, and the nutty-ness and conflict between the famility members is spot-on for a child's perception. "My Old Man and the Sea" is one of my favorites. I can be read earlier, but since much of the theme of the book is the reconciliation of an estranged relationship between father and son (and this is what makes the book so touching), it will speak to him more, and maybe be of more strategic timing for you to give him, after he's entered adolescence and has begun to have teen conflict with you. I taught Treasure Island to middle schoolers. Great adventure story. Stevenson wrote the book at the request of his 10 yr-old stepson, but since the vocabulary is so antiquated and the sentence structure sometimes long and complex (that was the style then, before "realism" took over in modern writing) I'd say if he's a voracious reader he'll be fine with it at ten; otherwise he might appreciate it more at 12 or so. You might challenge him to keep track of how many people die during the story (19, mostly pirates, but tragically, "good guys" bite the sand, too).
I have read The Wanderer, and it is delightful. I'd say 8yrs. old and up. The narrator is a young girl, and kids will identify with her sense of wonder about being out in the middle of the Atlantic, and the nutty-ness and conflict between the famility members is spot-on for a child's perception. "My Old Man and the Sea" is one of my favorites. I can be read earlier, but since much of the theme of the book is the reconciliation of an estranged relationship between father and son (and this is what makes the book so touching), it will speak to him more, and maybe be of more strategic timing for you to give him, after he's entered adolescence and has begun to have teen conflict with you. I taught Treasure Island to middle schoolers. Great adventure story. Stevenson wrote the book at the request of his 10 yr-old stepson, but since the vocabulary is so antiquated and the sentence structure sometimes long and complex (that was the style then, before "realism" took over in modern writing) I'd say if he's a voracious reader he'll be fine with it at ten; otherwise he might appreciate it more at 12 or so. You might challenge him to keep track of how many people die during the story (19, mostly pirates, but tragically, "good guys" bite the sand, too).
- Status