Boats: Steamers, Icebreakers, and Ghost Ships

Ages 10 And Up, Grades 5 And Up

Set sail on a delightfully detailed and richly illustrated voyage into the world of ships and shipping that introduces young readers to an oceanic array of naval phenomena.

Readers of every age will find something to dive into in this wonderfully diverse and in-depth exploration of the maritime world. As in his previous book, Planes, Jan van der Veken takes a kaleidoscopic approach to his subject.

Deftly weaving history, science, and culture, he looks at a fascinating array of subjects--historic vessels, amazing voyages, extraordinary figures, technical details, and cultural phenomena. Throughout the book, van der Veken ’s vibrantly colored, retro-futurist illustrations are as beautiful as they are informative. Readers will learn:

Why seas have streetsWhich bodies of water are considered cursedHow a ship stays afloatHow to use a sextantHow lighthouses work. Certain to provide hours of entertainment, this is the perfect book for naval enthusiasts of every age.

About the Author

Jan van der Veken designs book covers and posters and creates illustrations for newspapers and magazines, including two New Yorker covers. When van der Veken is not drawing, you can find him high in the sky, piloting a plane. In 2016 he received the Culture Prize from his hometown of Ghent, Belgium.

His other books, Planes, and Space are both available from Prestel.

Author Residence: Ghent, Belgium

Author Hometown: Ghent, Belgium