Canoes and Kayaks

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

With a limited text and plenty of full-color illustrations, emergent readers are introduced to a variety of water vessels in the "Boats & Ships" series. Each one surveys the history, uses, parts, and different kinds of boats within the class under discussion. In this book, the subject is canoes and kayaks, both of which are propelled through the water by paddle power or the movement of the water. There is just enough information to entice those who are inclined to thrills to try whitewater kayaking while other may be content to quietly glide along ponds and streams paddling a canoe. A pronunciation guide for certain bolded words is incorporated within the text. Not only does it interrupt the flow, the choices are not necessarily the most difficult words and the pronunciation guide is not always helpful. The words are defined in the glossary. There is an index and very limited guide to other sources. 1999, Rourke, Ages 5 to 8, 17.93. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot