Review: Titanic's Fatal Voyage by Kevin Blake

TITANIC'S FATAL VOYAGE

by Kevin Blake

Bearport Publishing

January 1st, 2018

Children's Non-Fiction

32 pages

ages 8 and up

"Iceberg right ahead!" yelled Frederick Fleet, a crewmember aboard the Titanic. The ship had only seconds to spare.Titanic'sofficers steered the ship to the left as quickly as they could to avoid a head-on collision. But they weren't fast enough. The right side of the ship struck the side of the ice mountain floating in the north Atlantic. The fate of theTitanic--and its 1,317 passengers and 885 crewmembers--had been sealed.Titanic's Fatal Voyage tells the devastating story of how the gigantic and supposedly unsinkable ship was swallowed by the sea on its maiden voyage. Readers will learn about the ocean liner's journey in vivid detail, as well as incredible tales of courage and survival. The fascinating content and large-format color images, maps, and fact boxes bring theTitanic's tragic story to life.Titanic's Fatal Voyage ispart of Bearport'sTitanica series.

MY TIDBITS

Although short, these pages hold a small wealth of information surrounding the history—from construction to passengers to the tragedy—of the titanic.

The first pages grab attention by giving a short glimpse of the Titanic the moment the iceberg was first spotted. After this raised tension, it slides back to explain the dreams behind the development and design of the huge, luxury ship. In two-page spread sections, various moments and facts leading up to the accident are presented. This lay-out keeps the information exciting and concise enough to hold the interest of even more reluctant readers.

Each section of the historical glimpses starts off with a short description, which gives the names of the people involved, various facts surrounding the ship and short explanations. The print is fairly large, making it easy to read. More difficult terms are placed in bold and can be found again in the glossary at the end of the book. While these paragraphs do hold the brunt of the historical facts, it's the added remarks thrown in among the pictures and illustrations which make this book fun.

The text is supported by bright and very clear photographs, which not only bring the historical side alive, but also add assistance on understanding more technical aspects of the history and ship. There are dabs of extra and fun facts scattered among the pages, which deepen the knowledge but also, are simply fun to read.

This books does stick to hard facts. Although it can be read in one sitting, it's the kind of book to go back to and check certain pieces of information later again. Some of the information is well-known, while other things will probably be a surprise. The addition of real photographs, especially of the passengers, adds a nice touch.

Discover more about the series here!

Get ready to set sail on the greatest—and most doomed— ship ever built. In this riveting new series, children will learn about all things Titanic. They will explore how the massive ship was built, get to know the Titanic’s passengers and crew, and experience, in vivid detail, the terrible accident that sealed the ship’s fate. Readers will also delve into the famous shipwreck, as well as uncover the spooky and mysterious tales that surround the Titanic. The fascinating content and large-format color images, maps, and fact boxes bring the tragic story to life.

Poster Also Available! Order Direct and Get a FREE poster when you buy the complete 6-book set of Titanica. No promo code necessary. There are six books in the Titanica series. When ordering the entire series, the poster is added automatically as the seventh product.

Review: Tomb Robbers Stolen Treasures by Ruth Owen

TOMB ROBBERS

Stolen Treasures

Egypt's Ancient Secrets Series

by Ruth Owen

Bearport Publishing

Children's Non-Fiction

ages 10+

Filled with fear and excitement, three men hurriedly dug their way through a dark passage. They were in search of treasure inside a dead king's tomb deep beneath the desert sands. If successful, they would be rewarded with gold, jewels, precious oils, and other treasures. If discovered, their punishment would be a terrible death! Why did some ancient Egyptians risk their lives to steal from the dead? And what tricks did tomb and pyramid builders use to hide burial chambers from tomb robbers?

Best deals for this and the entire series are found:

Bearport Publishing

MY TIDBITS

From sacrophagi to the process of embalming to the puzzle of mummy identification, this book takes a dive into ancient Egyptian tombs and reveals all sorts of gems of information young readers probably didn't know before.

At only 32 pages, this book holds a treasure trove of information surrounding the mysteries and history of Egyptian tombs. The author grabs the reader right away with a mysterious story about 8 men digging in the desert and goes off from there. A short text covers each spread, with quick and clear descriptions explaining everything from tomb robbers to the problems Egyptologists face when investigating a tomb. The words are engaging and hold a slight air of tension. More difficult or unfamiliar words are placed in bold letters and later explained in a glossary at the end of the book.

Each spread is bright, real life photos and, sometimes, diagrams. Small tidbits are added to give more clarity and explanation to side thoughts such as what a papyrus is or what a make-up bottle looks like. There's something interesting on every page, making this a book young readers are sure to come back to time and again.

While the text and information is easy to read and understand, some of the topics addressed might be a little harsh for children younger than the fourth grade (real life mummy photos and the clear presentation of the punishment tomb robbers faced). 

Summed up, this book offers a wonderful glimpse into ancient Egyptian tombs and many interesting facts surrounding them. Even adults will enjoy flipping through this and discover one or two facts they might not have known themselves.

This series consists of six books.

More than 4,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians developed their complex and fascinating civilization. They were storytellers, artists, and builders of incredible structures. Their powerful belief in the afterlife led them to care for their dead in a way that has left behind a wealth of knowledge about their society and everyday lives. However, for every ancient Egyptian structure or artifact discovered, unanswered questions remain. For example, why did the pharaohs build such elaborate tombs? And why was it important for their burial places to be hidden? In Egypt’s Ancient Secrets, the mysteries surrounding the giant pyramids, desert cemeteries, buried ships, and lost tombs are unraveled. Filled with fascinating details about life in ancient Egypt, each book delves into stories of the past. The series also discusses how historians and scientists are using advanced technology to help unlock Egypt’s ancient secrets.