Titanic: Shipwrecks and Sunken Treasure

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-Legendary creatures from many parts of the world burst from every page in the first book. Colorful photographs of artifacts such as Egyptian mummies and representations of monsters abound, and movie stills from Shrek, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone are sure to catch the eye of monster fans. Yet this is much more than a picture book. The text provides origins of characters such as Dracula and Medusa and describes a wide variety of creatures including the Norse giant Ymir and even tricksters like Anansi, Hare of West Africa, and Coyote, who appears in many Native American tales. A reference section includes name variations among different cultures, some famous hoaxes, and a few sacred places. While Titanic does indeed feature this famous tragedy, it details the history and salvaging techniques of other ill-fated ships. Henry VIII's Mary Rose, the Spanish Armada, the submersible Hunley, and ancient wrecks in the Mediterranean are just some of the vessels that have required development of special salvaging techniques for their recovery. Booty, bounty, and the activities of bloodthirsty pirates add extra spice to these dramatic accounts. The reference section is as juicy as the body of the work with its tantalizing facts and informative tidbits. Small trim size, dynamic covers, and information-rich contents make these titles irresistible.-Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.