CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS -
Juvenile books - novels, fiction, fact and other underwater stories. |
HOMEPAGE |
Please note: The books are listed for interest only,
and not offered for sale.
Where does one draw the boundary between 'juvenile' and 'young adult'? Some of these may well be of interest to the young adult, and some deserve a place in the collectors library. I'd like to add a special note here to express my appreciation to Phil Thuirtle, enthusiastic dive book collector and diver, member of the Historic Diving Society of the UK. Whereas I have bought many children's book on the underwater world, for my young son, I never saw them as a collectors items. Because of Phil's sharing of his collection through this listing, I have come to recognise how much interesting material has been published for the younger generations during the past century. Initially of course most underwater stories revolved around the daring-deeds of the hard-hat diver, fighting off rampant octopii as he raised shipreck treasure or patched up sunken boats. As the century drew to a close there were more and more juvenile 'underwater' books, as scuba diving rose in popularity. Now we have not only novels, but factual books on expeditions to find sunken treasure to more formal maritime archaaeology, and deep sea surveys in manned and unmanned submersibles.The more the merrier I say; if a book encourages a young person to appreciate the oceans and gives them the initial incentive to dive and see the underwater world for themselves, then all the better. See also Juvenile
- Boys Annuals, and compendiums.
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A
STRANGE CRUISE
Subtitle: A Story of Piracy on the High Seas Harry Collingwood.
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ACTION
MAN UNDERWATER EXPLORER
Published by: Brockhampton Press Ltd, Leicester, UK in 1971. Illustrated card covers; 32 printed pages. Dimensions: 24 cms tall by 16 cms wide This juvenile publication was sold to accompany the Action Man divers that were available at the time. As well as outlining the various Action Man divers that were available, it had a factual side with various stories and details about diving. It is divided into 9 chapter (or better called sections): “Exploring the Sea”, “Action Man – Snorkel Diver”, “Action Man – Scuba Diver”, “Action Man – Deep Sea Diver”, “Make Your Own Action Man Underwater Tableau”, “Make Your Own Action Man Seascape”, “Make Your Own Action Man Diving Platform”, “Make Your Own Fish Mobile” and “Did You Know”. Lots of things for kids to make as well as read about diving. The section “Exploring the Sea” is full of facts about the history of diving and details of diving up to the time the book was written. Each of the three sections written “Action Man - ?.” contains a fictional action story featuring the associated “doll”, showing the equipment available to accompany that diver. The acknowledgements on the back page include such eminent people as Ted Falcon Barker, Dr Horace Dobbs and others and also the Imperial War Museum. Not just for kids, also for more mature juveniles too! Other books that were available in the series were “Action Man Antarctic Explorer”, “Action Man Footballer” and “Action Man Parachutist”. [pt] |
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ALL ABOUT
UNDERSEA EXPLORATION
An Allabout book by Ruth Brindze. From eBay: Published in 1960, 145 pages and filled with vintage early 1960s photos. Fascinating underwater account for kids. Contents are: The World Beneath the Sea, Fathoming the Ocean's Secrets , Scientists at Sea Helmet, and Scuba Diving Descent by Bathysphere and Bathyscaphe, Exploration by Submarine, Treasure Hunters on the Bottom, Underwater Photography, The Search For Oil Beneath the Sea Wiring the Oceans Earth's Last Frontier. [Also listed under USA books] |
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BEN
OF THE BARRIER
N. R. Syme. Published by: Evans Brothers Limited, London in 1947. Illustrations by: J Nicholson. Hardback with dustjacket, 208 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 13 cms wide. When Terry Drummond and his younger brother Peter decide to seek the help of their Uncle Benjamin in order to escape dull careers in the city, they have little idea what adventures await them. They sail to Australia, to the reef encircled Thursday Island, where they join Benjamin, known as "Ben of the Barrier", the greatest sailor in the island. The accidental discovery of a pearl lined lagoon leads the three of them into contact with the villainous Billy Morgan, who wants to share in the pearling himself. The hazards of deep sea diving, the feud between Uncle Ben and the unscrupulous Morgan and a battle with a tidal wave make exciting reading. How brilliant seamanship saves the lives of all of them brings this thrilling story to a climax. (Detail from dustjacket). The book is written in 12 chapters and has 12 line drawn illustrations, only one of a diver being released by a second diver from a giant clam. Written in nine chapters, the book is also illustrated throughout with many line drawings by the same illustrator. [pt] |
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BLACK
GOLD
Book #9 Alpha Force series. Chris Ryan Random House, London. 2005. Alpha Force are in the Caribbean, diving, when a sudden oil spill draws them into a new mission. All their skills - powerboating, scuba-diving and jetskiing - are needed when an underwater bomb explodes. And then, an assassin strikes. |
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BREATHLESS
Pam Withers Publisher: Orca Book Publishers, Victoria, B.C. 2005. Fiction : Juvenile audience. Beverly is in Hawaii, helping her uncle at his dive shop, learning how to dive and trying to lose weight and get a boyfriend. When Garth, an accomplished diver, shows an interest in her, Beverly is ecstatic, until it turns out Garth is only interested in one thing. Struggling with failing strength from her self-imposed starvation diet, Beverly finds herself in deep trouble when she has to fight Garth off underwater. |
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BUDDIES
FOR LIFE
Kaarin Marx-Smith; Dea Marks Publisher: Perfection Learning Corp., Logan, Iowa. 2003. Format: eBook : Elementary and junior high school. Fiction. Josh has tried everything to to live up to his father's expectations and gain his dad's approval, but so far nothing has worked. Will things change when the two become scuba diving buddies? Read and see what happens when Josh and his father begin scuba diving lessons together. |
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CHILD
OF THE DEEP
Frances Jenkins Olcott & John E Williamson Illustrated with Williamson Undersea Photographs Published by: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, USA in 1938. Hardback with dustjacket; 116 printed pages. Dimensions : 21.5 cms tall by 16 cms wide Detail from dustjacket -"A new experience is opened to young readers when they go deep sea exploring with Sylvia Williamson under the tropic waters of the West Indies. Her father, a famous undersea photographer, took her with him down to accordion tube to the glass house in which he travelled the ocean floor. Under the water, Sylvia saw bright coral castles and coloured forests of sea fern and sea plume, and pink and blue and green fish, as well as sharks and many other interesting things. One day she and her father even discovered a long lost Spanish sea chest. A simply written story with a wealth of exciting incidents and scientific information by the author of "Twenty Years Under the Sea" in collaboration with Frances Jenkins Olcott, author, librarian, editor". The book is written 23 chapters and is illustrated with 8 monochrome plates and 4 coloured drawings done from inside WIlliamsons viewing chamber. One of the photographs shows young Sylvia being helped into the tube to descend to the sphere and another is a diagram showing how Williamson's sphere and it's tube were connected to the mother ship the Jules Verne. [pt] See more of JE Williamson. |
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CROSS-SECTIONS
MAN OF WAR
Stephen Biesty (illustrtor). Written by Richard Platt..
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DANGER
AT TWENTY FATHOMS
Ed Hanson Saddleback Puplishers. Irvine, California, USA. 2003. Fiction : Juvenile. After becoming a certified scuba diver, Jim Barclay experiences the dangers of the deep, including an encounter with a giant squid in Florida. |
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DANGER
IN THE DEEP.
Pat Balmes, Julie Balmes, Herb Heidinger. High Noon Books, Novato, California, USA. 1984. From an internet sales blurb: Encounters with treacherous seaweed, terrifying sharks, and ruthless pirates test Tom and Julie's courage and ingenuity as they attempt to collect rare fish and shells for a marine museum. |
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DAVEY
JONES'S LOCKER - A NORTH QUEENDLAND STORY ABOUT NAVY CADETS
C R Cummings Seaview Press, Henley Beach, South. Australia. 2004. Fiction : Juvenile audience : English |
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DEEP
DANGER
Robb White Doubleday. Garden City, N.Y. 1952. Fiction : Juvenile audience : An young veteran of World War II submarine warfare goes on a treasure hunt after the war ends to find the missing money from a sunken Nazi sub. |
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DEEP
DIVE
Peter L Dixon; Paul L Taylor Publisher: Bowmar. Glendale, California, USA. 1971 Fiction : Juvenile audience. Summary: A high school boy finds his summer diving job with a marine research institute full of adventure, danger, and valuable experience. |
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DEEP
TROUBLE
Walt Morey E.P. Dutton and Company, 1971 Hardcover, dustjacket. Set in Alaska just before statehood, a young man just out of high school starts a cherished career as a diver for the salmon traps. But, everything is about to change with statehood and a revolutionization of the salmon industry. "Even as a young boy Joey had dreamed of hunting underwater treasures, and now that he was out of high school, he wanted more than anything to be a diver. If he could get a job diving the salmon traps around Orca City, he could earn more than enough money to support his family." |
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DIAMOND
HEAD DIVER
Steve Lomas. published by Ives Washburn, Inc. 1963. Hardcover in durable pictorial cover, 161pp. Probably best for ages 12-15 depending on reading ability. A scuba diving adventure story set in Hawaii. |
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DIVE
Gordon Korman. Scholastic Inc. (Apple Paperbacks). Paperback, 148 pages, no pretty pictures - it's for reading. Three books in the series under the title 'Dive': Book One - The Discovery; Book Two - The Deep; Book Three- The Danger. It's about diving for treasure of course - some like the Famous Five go underwater, although there are only four kids and the books are arguably better written thatn Enid Blyton. Well-written books on diving for youngsters lkike this may give them some incentive to see what is below the surface odf the sea, even if treasure is not always present under the local pier. And although I have not read the books from cover-to-cover, they do seem to consider the safety aspects of diving without it trying to be a diving manual. Unfortunately, I fear that if there is not a dragon mentioned somewhere, or the kids are motivated by some supernatural force, perhaps they will loose interest! I hope not. [ps] |
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DIVE
INTO DANGER
Judy C.Olsen, Ensign 1979. hardcover, dustjacket. 147 pages. 8vo Without seeing the book, I would have to suggest that it is a children's fiction, but actually, I have no idea. |
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DIVE
TO DANGER
Oyvind Holmvik and Hans Faye-Lund. Translated by Evelyn Ramsden. Originaly published in Norway by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag under the title 'Dybde 120 fot'. English translation 1964 for Harcort, Brace & World Inc. British verson of the English translation 1966 by Oliver & Boyd Ltd, Edinburgh and London. This is basically a tale of diving by a 'skilled trainer of frogmen', although we dont know which one of the authors is so skilled. This is a ".... tale of courage and danger that will appeal not only to anyone intersted in skin-diving but also to all young people with a sense of adventure". So, is it fact or fiction. It is fiction - with the inevitable search for pirate treasure off Madeira. |
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DIVER
DOWN - GOOD Vs EVIL.GOOD
Donald B Lemke; Yonami Stone Arch Books. Mankato, Minn. USA. 2012. Elementary and junior high school : Fiction . |
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DIVING
AND SALVAGE
Rolt Hammond Published by: Frederick Muller Ltd, London in 1964. One from a series called “The Mechanical Age Library”. Hard blue covers and dust jacket; 143 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 13 cms wide. This book is aimed at juvenile readers and covers subjects underwater as far apart as The Egypt, Scapa Flow and the Vasa. It is divided into 8 chapters: “Modern Diving Gear”, “Underwater Tools and Equipment”, “Diving Dangers and Research”, “Deep Water Salvage”, “Salvage and Television”, “Raising a Fleet”, “Notable Salvage Achievements”, “Unusual Salvage Operations”. Extremely well illustrated with 15 monochrome photographs and 16 line drawings. One of the photographs shows a diver at Siebe Gorman with a TV camera, presumably in the early 1960’s and the camera is almost as big as him – how we’ve progressed! This is one in a series of books in the “The Mechanical Age Library” series, others include “Submarines”, “Radar”, “Power From Atoms”, “Shipbuilding and Design”, plus lots more. [pt] |
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DIVING
FOR TREASURE
Wyatt Blassingame. Macrae-Smith Company, Philadelphia, USA, 1971. Hardcover, dustjacket, 146 pages, a few mono photographs, no index. A juvenile book of factual accounts, including chapters on William Phips and the Hispaniola treasure, the Antikthera wreck, the Atocha, and many other treasure wrecks. [ps] |
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DOUGAL'S
DEEP-SEA DIARY
Author: Simon Bartram Five Mile Press, Rowville, Victoria, Australia. 2004. Fiction : Juvenile audience : English . |
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EXPLORERS
OF THE DEEP
Donald W. Cox. Hamond New Jersey, USA, 1968 Recounts the stories of 18 pioneers of oceanography : Franklin,Maury, Holland, Agassiz, Bond, Cousteau and others. Juvenile interest. |
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FROGMAN
DIVER
Andrew Wood. Illustrated by Pamela Mara. Published by: Ginn and Company , London, UK in 1955. Hard illustrated cover; 154 printed pages. This juvenile book is written as one of a series of “Active Readers” books. Totally fiction but with a strong factual theme. Written in 12 chapters, it starts with two RNVR frogmen diving in Mossbed Reservoir on the Pennine Moors in 1943. I have never heard of such a place in the UK! It goes on to describe the frogmen suits and he charioteers in Sladen suits, D-Day landings, a frogman used in a mine rescue and some recreational diving. It also goes on to describe diving to a flooded village in a valley that had been dammed for a reservoir -maybe based on Derwent village in the UK Peak District in Derbyshire? At the back of the book are “exercises” for the young reader to complete after reading each chapter, to help them remember what they have just read, the exercises are accompanied with more line drawings and monochrome illustrations than the main story. The author says in his introduction to the book that much of the information about the Frogmen and charioteers was contained in a BBC broadcast during the war, he says at the time it was a “hush-hush business”. He also refers the “The Frogmen” by Waldron and Gleeson as a source of information as well as articles in “The Times” and a publication called “Engineering”. Phil continues: It is fiction but it is all based on fact. Take "Mossbed reservoir" for example. The village Derwent in Derbyshire was really flooded for a reservoir in 1943 and the photo of the church spire sticking out of the water in the attached web site is drawn in the book as a line drawing. See www.caughtbytheriver.net/2009/02/the-village-that-died-for-derbyshire [pt] |
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IN
TOO DEEP
Coert Voorhees Publisher: Hyperion. New York. 2013. Fiction : Secondary (senior high) school. Persuaded by her teacher to seek Cortez's long-lost treasure during a school trip to Mexico, Annie Fleet, master scuba diver and history buff, finds that her plans to get Josh to notice her are not the only thing in danger as rival treasure-hunters try to do away with her. |
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INSIDE
INFORMATION ON EXPLORING UNDER THE SEA
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KAT
AND COPY-CAT
E.E. Steven, [Katherine M. Yates] Patten Co., Ltd., Honolulu; 1929 E.E. Stevens is a pseudonym for beloved juvenile fiction author Katherine M. Yates, author of the magical A Tale From the Rainbow land and a number of others. Yates presumably took the pseudonym for this one because it was her first venture into detective/mystery fiction, being the tale of two sisters diving into a Hawaiian mystery, and this was at the time a bit off her own established track. Not to worry - it turned out just fine, remarkable and charming fiction. |
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LAFFY
OF THE NAVY SALVAGE DIVERS
Iris Vinton. Dodd, Mead & Company New York, NY 1944 Hardcover, blue cloth covered boards w dark blue lettering and dark blue illustration of dog on the front cover; 159 pp. The story of a real dog in real adventures with a group of Navy divers. He was the mascot of the Navy Training School, located on Pier 88, Nort. A fox terrier I think. Maybe I do the publisher and author a dis-service by considering it to be juvenile. |
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MACKINLAY'S
MILLIONS
Subtitle: A Story of Submarine Research Edmund Burton Published by: P R Gawthorn Ltd, London c1946. (Book not dated taken from inscription) Hardback with dustjacket; 184 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 12.5 cms wide A juvenile adventure book in 20 chapters telling stories of salvage. The book is illustrated with one coloured print, the frontispiece which is identical to the dustjacket and 8 more line drawings, one of which is divers stumbling upon a wreck [pt] |
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MODERN
ADVENTURES (The EAGLE Book of)
Hilton Press, London. first published 1952, then revised and reprinted 1956 (as shown). Hardcover, dustjacket, 238 pages, no images. Contains a number of excellent 'adventure' stories for boys by top authors: The Wooden Horse by Eric Williams; the Kon-Tiki Expedition by Ronald Syme; Grim Journey by A.M.McLean. Most are written by Syme but others by original authors. The one of interst to young divers in Three Thousand Feet Deep by Martin Chisholm, based on 'The Story of William Beebe, Explorer Under the Ocean. The fifteen pages covering this topic is well written and would be of interest to an adult as well as a young child, be it a boy or a girl. [pjs] |
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MUNDO
SUBMARINO (Underwater World)
Published in Spain by B4U Publishing Co, Inc Cardboard Book 24 pages (not numbered). Dimensions 19 cms tall by 19 cms wide This is a juvenile book I picked up on a recent visit to Spain (2012), totally published in Spanish and made totally from heavy duty cardboard, some 2 mm thick. The front of the book shows a diver wearing a helmet but the front five pages are die cut to take the reader through the levels of the helmet until on the fifth page they are down to the divers head and shoulders. Not being fluent in the Spanish language, roughly, the book continues with diving history from early diving bells, Bushnell's Turtle, helmet diving, snorkelling down to 10 metres, life on a tropical reef, scuba and life down to 40 metres, atmospheric suite and life around 60 metres, free diving to 200 metres and finally in Triest to the bottom of the oceans. For 12 euros, the book is worth owning just for the die cut diving helmet on the front few pages, no regrets buying it despite the language problem. [pt] PS-I have included the listing here as, although it is in the Spanish language, any English speaking lad or lass would thoroughly enjoy it. Let's hope that the publishers contract to have an English version. What a marvellous innovative idea. . |
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OCEAN
"Discover the vast waters that cover the earth's surface - the sunlit shadows, the myssterious depths, and the mazing ocean wildlife." Miranda Macquitty Published by Dorling Kindersley, London in 1995. (Published in the series of "Eyewitness Guides") Illustrated hard cover with dustjacket; 64 printed pages Dimensions: 28.5 cms tall by 22.5 cms wide. As with all the Dorling Kindersley books, this book is very well illustrated with many relevant photographs (mainly in colour), drawings and diagrams. This book is intended as an informative guide to the natural history, geology and exploration of the sea. It is divided into 29 sections: "Oceans of the Past", "Oceans Today", "Life in the Oceans", "Waves and Weather", "Sandy and Muddy", "Soft Sea Bed", "Rocks Underwater", "On The Rocks", "The Coral Kingdom", "Life on a Coral Reef", "Sea Meadows", "Predators and Prey", "Homes and Hiding", "Attack and Defence", "The Jet Set", "Moving Along", "Ocean Travellers", "The Twilight Zone", "Vents and Smokers", "Diverse Divers", Onderwater Machines", "Ocean Explorers", "Wrecks on the Seabed", "Harvesting Fish", "Ocean Products", "Oil and Gas Exploration" and "Oceans in Peril". There are four sections about diving and submarines/submersibles along with some history on the subjects. [pt], [ps] Cover images - top, is Australian edition published by Harper Collins, Sydney, 1995. Lower image is UK edition.
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OCEAN
CREATURES Jigsaw Book
This is one of the most enjoyable childrens' book you will find anywhere. It is a fun ‘book' as it required interaction by the child in one of the most enjoyabl fo children's pastimes - the jigsaw puzzle. Ther are five of them, one per page, each of a different underwater theme - the whales and dolphins, the colourful cral reef, the denizons of the deep, the sharks and skates of the open sea, and cratures of the polar world. The jigsaw pieces lift out of the page, and are then re-assembled within the boarders of the page, and so are kept nice and neat for the next time. A superb idea and great fun. The pieces are not simply flimsy pieces of paper - they are of solid card similar to mot and indeed better than the regular boxed jigsaw. My son never tires of this book and shares it with all of his young visitors. It is also a great family ‘book' in that parents can join in, and hopefully, talk to the youngster about the various marine creatures. Of the 3Es, whereas it is relatively low on education, it is high on entertainment, and with parenal direction, is fine on encouragement to learn more. A very highly recommended book. It would make a great gift. Format: Oblong format, 330 x 240mm, still board pages of about 3mm each, in full colour. Theme: Fun first, education second. Great family book. Ages: Five upward. |
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OCEAN
FRONTIERS
Eryl Davis. Consulting: John Bevan. Published by: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books, London in 1979 Illustrated hard cover - 61 printed pages. Dimensions: 29 cms tall by 22 cms wide This juvenile book claims to tell how technologists are tackling the problems of underwater exploration. It looks at drilling for oil underwater and how the job of a diver fits in, it goes on to look at submersibles and how they work and also "undersea robots", better known today as ROV's. It starts with early underwater exploration, touching on Alexander the Great, Klingert and Halley's Diving Bell and moves through hard hat diving to the modern equipment at the time. It is divided into 29 sections: "The Oceans are....", "What's Below the Surface", "Early Undersea Exploration", "Diving Pioneers", "Deeper and Deeper", "The Modern Deep Sea Diver", "Life Under Pressure", "Another Approach", "Diving For Fun", "Submerged History", "Undersea Raiders", "The Nuclear Submarine", "The Bathysphere and Bathyscaphe", "The Modern Submersible", "Submersibles at Work", "Undersea Robots", "Underwater Sound", "Seeing Underwater", "Rescue and Safety", "Modern Research", "The Mineral Storehouse", "The Hunt for Oil and Gas", "Oil and Gas Production", "Transporting Oil and Gas Ashore", "Food From the Sea", "A Modern Trawler", "Save Our Seas", "Ocean Power" and Into The Future. As you will no doubt guess, no section goes into a lot of detail, it is a small book covering a lot of subjects. However, it is extremely well illustrated with countless photographs, diagrams and charts, the majority of which are in colour. [pt] |
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OCTOPUS
ENCOUNTER
Sally Streib Pacific Press Pub. Association. Nampa, Idaho, USA. 2007. Elementary and junior high school, fiction, English. Twelve-year-old twins, Eric and Susan, accompany their aunt and uncle to the island of Grand Cayman on an scuba diving expedition to assess the damage done by a hurricane to the reefs along the north edge of the island. |
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OFF
THE WALL - SCUBA DIIVING, TO THE EXTREME
Sigmund Brouwer Word, (publishers), Dallas, USA. 1996. Elementary and junior high school level. While helping his uncle run a scuba diving shop, Ian becomes involved in a race for hidden treasure on a sunken pirate ship. |
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ONE
FISH, TWO FISH, RED FISH, BLUE FISH
Dr. Seuss. Another superb nonsence rhyming book from the creator of the loveable Cat in a Hat, a great hit with all children. An excellent book for an introuction to numbers and quantity, in a fun way of course. It is not all marine based, but that matters little. A great fun book. Format:Hardcover, 62 pages, full colour throughout. Theme: Just a fun book of rhyme, well illustrated to allow interaction with the child, and with a subtle learning theme into numbers and quantity. Ages: Four to eight. |
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PIRATES
AND SHIPWRECKS
Publisher: Sunshine Press Glasgow. 1932 (?)
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PRISONERS
UNDER THE SEA
Arthur Catherall. Illustrations by: Geoffrey Whittam. Published by: J M Dent & Sons ltd, London in 1963. Hardback with dustjacket; 168 printed pages. Dimensions: 19.5 cms by 13.5 cms The book follows Jack Frodsham and Husky Hudson and their crew on the Bulldog on an important piece of salvage work in Indonesian waters, reclaiming the 8,000 ton Comilla. Carrying refugees from war torn Hong Kong, and gold coin from the banks, the Comilla had been hit by Japanese bombs. One unconscious ship's office was left aboard by accident - and he escaped but for twenty years afterwards suffered from loss of memory. When his memory returned he was the only man who knew where the ship had finally foundered. Desperate for money, he meets Karmey, owner of the tugs Thunderbolt and Rosemary G. A Forged naval document brings the Bulldog and her crew on what seems to be an official piece of salvage work. Then Indonesia's new submarine, making a goodwill tour of the islands is sunk, and a desperate battle begins. If the submarine's crew are rescued Karmey is ruined. If however they are not rescued Jack Frodsham and his crew face long prison sentences. The pace and excitement of this story never slacken. Thanks to the author's knowledge and skilful use of technical detail the scene on board the sunken submarine is as tense as anything he has previously done in this popular Bulldog series. (Detail from dustjacket). Written in nine chapters, the book is also illustrated throughout with many line drawings by the same cover illustrator. [pt] |
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SALVAGE
AT SEA - ENGINEERS AT WORK
Ian Graham Gloucester Press, London etc. Firsdt published New York, 1990. Hardcover, laminated board covers. (No dustjacket). Large A4+ format; 32 pages, well illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings throughout. Glossary, index. A very interesting book for the young reader. Covers the topics of Salvage, Tugs and Towing, Floating Cranes, Salvaging Cargo, Firefighting, Underwater Wrecks, Looking for Wrecks, Deep-sea Survey, Working Underwater, Dive to the Past. Great Salvage Events, The Young Engineer. [ps] |
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SCUBA
BUNNIES
Author: Christine Loomis; Ora Eitan G.P. Putnam, New York. 2004. Scuba-diving rabbits have adventures which include swimming by a pirate ship and encountering a variety of sea animals. |
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SEA
GOLD
The Story Of A Boy Who Masters Deep Sea Diving. Hugh McAlister. Hardcover, 251 pages. Published in 1931 by Saalfield Publishing Co. Inc. Akron, Ohio, USA, 1931 The story of Speed McGee, a young boy who lived on a steamer plying the waters off Florida looking for "drowned ships", a salvage effort. Chapters entitled: On the Sea Shelf, At Work on the Bottom, Combing the Sea, The Gold Hunt. [pt] Also listed in: The Flight of the Silver Ship: Around the World Aboard a Giant Dirigible; Sea Gold: The Story of a Boy Who Masters Deep Sea Diving; Stand by: The Story of a Boy's Achievement in Radio ie three complete novels for boys in one volume. McAlister, Hugh Published by Saalfield, Akron, Ohio: Copyright 1930, 1931, 1930 respectively. Believe published 1931. Pictorial boards; pages - . 252, 252 and 247. About 60 mm thick. Frontispiece to each story. |
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SEAHORSE
REEF - A Story of the South Pacific.
Sally M.Walker, illustrated by Steven James Petruccio. From the Smithsonian Ocean Collection, Smithsonian Institute. Beautifuily illustrated, this is a story of a seahorse who lives in the Philippines. He is a male, and as we adults well know, it is he who carries the eggs after mating. Seahorse and his mate meet up with a number of marine animals in their immediate habitate, and their reaction and interaction with the animals in important. Is the parrotfish a threat to Seahorse. And what about the sea snake, or the crab? Finbally, Seahorse is ready to give ‘birth' to the baby seahorses, more than three hundred of them. How many will grow into adulthood? Format: Softcover, very well ilustrated in full colour, oblong format 290 x 215 mm, 32 pages. Theme: A factual tale told in a storylike fashion. Ideal to be read to a young child. Text is large and clear for the young reader. A delightful gift. Ages: For children four to ten. |
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SHIPS
- A Stunning Visual History.
Written by Richard Humble. Many contributors to illustrations. Published by Colour Library Books Ltd., Godalming, UK, 1995. Hardcover, illustrated boards as per dustjacket, a huge book of dimensions 28cm wide by 36cm deep (nearly A3), fully illustrated in colour. This is a great visual book for the younger reader and adult alike, with sections on: Egyptian and Greek warships, Roman merchant ship, Viking logship, Caravels, steamships, ironclads, the sailing clipper, battleships, luxury liners, aircraft carrier, submarine, supertanker and high-speed ferry. Not the easiest books to read in bed (to oneself or your child!) But very well designed and of great interest. [ps] |
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SHIPS
AND SEAFARING SHOWN TO THE CHILDREN
Arthur O Cooke Published by: T C & E C Jack Ltd, London c1916. (Book not dated or inscribed)
The book is published as one of the "Shown to the Children" series which at the time included other titles like "The Sea-Shore", "The Farm", "Butterflies and Moths", "The Navy", "The Army", "The Earth", "Work and Workers" and "The Microscope" plus many more. [pt] |
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SHIPWRECK
Richard Platt Published by Dorling Kindersley, London in 1997. (Published in the series of "Eyewitness Guides") Illustrated hard cover with dustjacket (same as illustrated hard boards); 59 printed pages Dimensions: 28.5 cms tall by 22.5 cms wide. As with all the Dorling Kindersley books, this book is very well illustrated with many relevant photographs (mainly in colour), drawings and diagrams. The book looks at some of the oldest recorded shipwrecks and their relics, including the Kyrenia, Mary Rose, the Girona and as recent as the Titanic. There are three sections on early diving, scuba and deep exploration in atmospheric suites and submersibles - again all very well illustrated. It is divided into 26 sections: "Rocks, Wrecks and Rescues", "Hazards of the Sea", "Ancient Wrecks", "First Quest for Wrecks", "Far Eastern Junks", "Raising the Mary Rose", "British Shipwrecks", "Wrecks of the Armada", "Lost in Lake Ontario", "Unveiling the Vasa", "Unsinkable Titanic", "Oil Tanker Disasters", "Navigation", "Guiding Lights", "Communications", "Shipwreck Survivors", "Air and Sea Rescues", "Lifeboat Equipment", "Early Diving", "Scuba Diving", "Deep Sea Exploration", "Life on Board Ship", Lost Cargoes", "Reconstruction and Preservation" and "The Art of Shipwrecks". [pt] Further comment: I hesitate to put this in the jevenile section as I have found it to be an excellent book as are all DK books, but I do beelieve they are aimed at the younger reader - well, younger than me anyway and that would probably be ninety-five percent of the world!!! [ps] |
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SKIN-DIVING.
Start Here if You Want to Go Skin-Diving.
Peter Little and David English. English edition: Puffin Books, imprint of Penguin, Middlesex, England. 1981. Australian edition: Penguin Books, Melbourne, Australia, 1982. Paperback, 36 pages. ISBN (Australian edition) 0 14 031509 8. A delightful book for children in the Puffin Adventure Sports series, profusely illustrated with colour drawings throughout. When Penguin decided to release the book in Australia, they most sensibly contacted the Scuba Divers Federation of Australia to have it ratified for Australian consitions. Relevant sections of the book were re-written by Peter Stone, then Administration Manager of the SDFA. This is credited on the Australian edition. [ps] |
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SKIN-DIVING
ADVENTURES
John J. Floherty and Mike McGrady J. B. Lippincott Company, USA; 1962 Hardback, probably with a dust jacket. Illustrated with mono photos. |
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SUBMERGE
- The Story of Divers and their Crafts
Anabel Deane Published by: The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, USA in 1976. One in a series by Franklin Institute Books. Hard back covers with dustjacket; 111 printed pages; dimensions: 23.5 cms tall by 17 cms wide This “Franklin Institute Book” was published aimed at juvenile readers. The author had been an elementary school teacher for fifteen years prior. The book is described as giving the younger reader a view into diving, oceanography, sea exploration and research vehicles. It is divided into 8 chapters: “How Diving Began”, “The Development of Underwater Vehicles”, “The First Undersea Explorers”, “Research Submersibles”, “Undersea Explorers”, “Work Submersibles”, “Underwater Dwellings” and “Tomorrow Beneath the Seas”. As you would expect with a book aimed at the younger reader, it is very well illustrated with monochrome photographs and line drawings. [pt] |
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SUNKEN
TREASURE
Percy Woodcock. Illustrated by: Savile Lumley. Published by Thomas Nelson & Sons, London c1950. (Book not dated) Hard back with DJ - 250 printed pages Dimensions: 19.5 cms tall by 13.5 cms wide There wasn't much left of the old days for Jack and Dick Fairing - just the ketch Scorpion and barely enough money to live on. But, having decided to make the Scorpion their home, they soon find themselves sailing up the West coast of Scotland, with new friends aboard and a treasure wreck ahead. (Comments inside dustjacket). The book consists of nineteen chapters with line drawn illustrations, some of divers. The frontispiece is the only coloured print in the book. [pt],[ps] |
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SUNKEN
TREASURE
Ed Hanson Publisher: Saddleback Pub., Irvine, California. 2005. Barclay family adventures., Series 2. Fiction : Juvenile audience. Jim Barclay and his friend Todd convince Jim's father to help them recover sunken treasure in a reef just off the coast of Guatemala. |
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TALES
TOLD IN THE NURSERY
L. I. Tonge and E. M. Tonge Published by: The Religious Tract Society, London c1910. (Not dated but has inscription dated Christmas 1910) Hard back illustrated cover; 87 printed pages. (Glued and taped spine). Dimensions: 26.5 cms tall by 20 cms wide. This juvenile book, published in the early 1900's, tells the young reader in 20 short chapters where we find or make everyday things. It starts with a an small interesting two page article about sponge diving the the Mediterranean Sea - it even starts the sponge article "Once upon a time, your sponge lived in a beautiful home in the South of Europe". Commodities, manufactures goods and services included: "Sponge", "Soap", "Wool", "Coal", "China", "Tea", "Sugar", "A Letter", "Salt", "Cork", "Glass", "Bread", "Butter", "Paper", "Honey", "Candles", "Silk", "Needles", "Cotton" and "Buttons". Each short chapter is so well illustrated with photographs and line drawings. [pt] |
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TEN
FATHOMS BY SCUBA
Bertrand Shurtleff. Illustrated by Miller Pope. Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis, 1963. Boards, quarter bound in cloth; dustjacket. ‘great cover painting of boy diving on the wooden hull of a sunken ship by Miller Pope’. Book features wonderful interior illustrations by Pope, many full-page diving scenes. A juvenile adventure about young boy who learns scuba diving while spending a summer with his uncle and discovers a lost treasure. ‘Early children's diving adventure.’ |
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TEN
FATHOMS DEEP
Arthur Calderall. Illustrations by: Geoffrey Whittam Published by: J M Dent & Sons Ltd, London in 1954 Hardback with dustjacket; 180 printed pages. Dimensions: 19.5 cms by 13.5 cms Written in 12 chapters with one colour print which is the frontispiece and it is identical to the DJ cover. The book is also illustrated throughout with many line drawings by the same illustrator. [pt] A lad of seventeen joins his father, a tug master, at Singapore, having first worked in England to be able to help him in his job. He finds himself almost at once involved in a mysterious plot directed against a man who had escaped from a sinking ship, and so become a vital witness against the gang who sunk her. Young Jack takes his father's powerful tug to sea... and this is the story of his thrilling and dangerous adventure against the gang, a battle of wits and courage and ingenuity in the Far Eastern waters. Additional note: Also seen advertised as 'first edition' by Criterion Books, New York, 1968; and also by Atlantic Book Publishing Co. Ltd., 1968 (possibly UK). |
THE
ADVENTURE BOOK FOR BOYS
Collins, 1960. Hardcover. Stories by Showell Styles,Eric Williams, Michael Elder, Tom Weir, Edward Bond, Capt. Frank Knight and a ‘deep sea diving story’, "The Treasure of Malpelo Island" by Lieut. Harry E. Rieseberg. |
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THE AMAZING OCTOPUS
Bobbie Kalman. What amazing creatures they are.I love ‘em, and children find them just as fascinating. This excellent book is fully illustrated throughout with colour photographs and drawings. Text is large for ease of reading by the child and parent. Chapters include: What is an Octopus?, Sensing surroundings, Masters of disguise, Great escapes, Big barins, Ocean food web, Octopuses and people. The danger of the Blue-ringed octopus is mentioned of course, and sensible advice about not keeping an octopus in captivity - they are not pets. Format: Softcover, width 210 x depth 240 mm, full colour, 32 pages, with glossary and even an index. Theme: Eductional fact. Ideal to read to a child, or for a young reader. A good title to retain for future reference. Ages: For children four to fourteen. |
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THE
AMPHORA PIRATES
Lou Cameron. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1971. Harcover, dust jacket, .211pp. First British novel of skulduggery involving underwater archaeologists and amphora pirates-criminal skindivers who plunder ancient wrecks for Greek vases (amphorae). |
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THE
BOOK OF INVENTION
T C Bridges
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THE
BOYS BOOK OF INVENTIONS
Ray Stannard Baker
I understand that modern reproduction copies of this book are now available and would be interested in the quality of the reprint? [pt] Further comment from pt: This one is a really interesting book but I'm not sure where you put it in Submarines or "Some Diving content" or Juvenile or even Victorian Illustrated (maybe the latter). It shows Simon Lake's submarine Argonaut and what I think is one of the earliest reference to an actual diver "locking in and out" apart from fiction in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea? Out of curiosity, have a look at: www.simonlake.com/html/argonauts.html |
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THE BOYS BOOK
OF SALVAGE
David Masters. See Author, David Masters. |
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THE
BOYS BOOK OF STEAMSHIPS
J.R.Howden. Grant Richards Ltd., London. First edition September 1908. Second edition (as here) November 1913. Hardcover, illustrated cloth boards with four-funnel steam ship image; paddle steamer on spine, (probably depicting the Mauretania or Aquitania). Total 296 pages, index, Over one hundred photographs of good quality. ‘With over one hundred illustrations from photographs'. Actually, most are original photographs). What a delightful book, with plenty of photographs and interesting text for the young reader - indeed, the adult steamship enthussiast would get something out of it, especially from the photographs. Seventeen chapters over 296 pages, index. Forget about this being a boys' own book; any adult interested in maritime history through the development of steamships would be well informed. It is well written without any vestage of boys-talk, and deserving of any adult's library. We start of with the Principles of Ship Desihn, the Coming of Steam; The Engines and Propelling Machinery; the Development of Type; the Comfort of the Passenger; Navigation and Engineering Departments; The Steward's Department; River, Lake and Coastal Steamers, the Ocean Steamships - North Atlantic, Eastern and Australian Routes, South Atlantic and Pacific. (And there is a photograph of the 24,000 ton Baltic on which my grandfather was commissioned as a chef.) This really is an excellent book. [ps] |
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BRIGHTON BOYS IN THE SUBMARINE TREASURE SHIP
Lieutenant James R Driscoll Published by: The John C Winston Company, Philadelphia, USA in 1920. Printed hard covers; 250 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 12 cms wide A juvenile adventure book published in a series in the USA in “The Brighton Boys” series, all by the same author. Written and illustrated in twenty-one chapters. [pt]
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. | THE
BUNGALOW BOYS MAROONED IN THE TROPICS
Dexter J Forrester Published by: Hurst & Company, New York, USA in 1911. Printed hard covers; 296 printed pages. Dimensions: 19.5 cms tall by 12.5 cms wide. An adventure book for young readers published in the USA in the “Bungalow Boys” series all written by the same author. The illustrated cover shows a diver discovering the prized treasure chest while the spine shows a diver using his trusted knife. Written in 25 chapters, the book only has one illustration, the frontispiece. The publisher seems to have published many other similar books for young readers, all in a series like this. They include “The Boy Scout Series”, “The Dreadnought Boys Series”, “The Boy Aviator Series”, “The Ocean Wireless Series” plus many more. [pt]
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THE CITY UNDER
THE SEA
An Ace Cooper Adventure Felix Sutton. Published by Duell, Sloan & Pearce, New York. 1961. Hardcover, dustjacket, 146 pages. No illustrations. An adventure book for boys. 'Actually this is a yarn that bridges the scientific world as we know it today and as it will exist in truth a decade from now'. [ps] |
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THE
CRUISE OF THE FLYING FISH
Subtitle: The Airship Submarine Harry Collingwood Published by Sampson & Low, London. Printed hard covers; 314 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 12 cms wide. I think this 1939 edition of the book is a reprint from an earlier date but I don’t know when it was first published. As far as I know it is the second in a trilogy, the first being “The Log of the Flying Fish” and the final being “With Airship and Submarine”. It is more of the wonder ship that flies high in the air, skims the surface of the sea, and descends to its lowest depths. Its owners hide it under the waters of the English Channel until they need it for their next cruise. Their dismay when they discover it has been stolen, and their adventures in recovering it, make an exciting and absorbing story (alegedly). Printed in 20 chapters, the book is only illustrated with one monochrome prints – the frontispiece. [pt] See note on author Collingwood under The Pirate Island.
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THE
DRAGONS OF KANGAROO ISLAND
Written and Illustrated by Jacqueline Vickery Stanley. Tangara Publishing, Seattle, USA. 2002. Hardcover, dust-jacket, fully illustrated in colour throughout, 34 pages. Australian author, illustrator, educationist and diver, Jacqueline Vickery Stanley is based in Canada and Texas, but maintains close ties to Australia through her family in Melbourne (where she was born), and friends. Her first book, Wolfie, The Wolf-Eel was a resounding success, but lttle known in Australia as the delighfully ugly yet beautifully peaceful animal is a Canadian species. The author's second book comes back home, with a wonderful tale of Lucille, the Weedy Seadragon, so popular in south-eastern waters, especially off South Australia's Kangaroo Island. Unfortunately, Lucille wants to be like her cousin Leslie, a Leafy Seadragon. After several adventures, Lucille realises that being yourself is the most important thing. It is a deligtful tale for youngsters, especially if they hve an afinity with the sea, which, of course, they all should have. If you have a child, or you are like me and into a wonderfully naieve second-childhood, read this book. Includes a brief appendix on the biology of the seadragons, and other fish. [ps] [Jacqui Stanley is an educationalist who loves the sea and enjoys telling children about it. On a visit to Melbourne in 2008, Jacqui make a four hundred kilometre round trip to vist the primary school where my son Sam was attending, where she presented slides and film in a remarkable interaction with the kids. They loved her. Just recently (October 2010), Jacqui was working with the NOAA organisation at the Aquarius underwater habitat off Florida and arranged for the scientists working under saturation conditions to send a 'cheerio' to Sam and his school.] |
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THE
FISHERMAN
Subtitle: A Ladybird Easy Reading Book - People at Work series. I & J Havenhand. Illustrated by: John Berry. Published by: Wills & Hepworth Ltd, Loughborough, UK in 196 3. Hard printed covers; 50 printed pages. Dimensions: 18 cms tall by 11.5 cms wide In the UK, "Ladybird" publish books aimed at children and have published a tremendous number of books on various subjects, some fact and some fiction. This one tells about life in the UK's Deep Sea Fishermen . This is what the preface says: "A relatively simple vocabulary, large clear type and superb colour illustrations are used to give interesting and accurate information about the fishing industry, and the men, boats and equipment that bring us this very important food". The book is very informative describing the life of the distant water deep sea fishermen, the boats, the methods used to catch fish and how it is processed when back to port. There is even a small section at the back about whaling - obviously published in the days when the whaling trade was acceptable. The format of the book is consistent so that when viewed, the left hand page shows text while each right hand page has a full page coloured print. Inside the front and back covers, both pages viewed show a map of the North Atlantic Fishing Grounds, an example of what the fish caught look like and examples of fishing trawlers. [pt] See other Ladybird publications on this page.
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THE
GREAT WHITE SHARK - Ruler of the Sea.
Kathleen Zoehfeld. Illustrated by Steven James Petruccio. From thee Smithsonian Ocean Collection, Smithsonian Institute. Oh dear, not another book on sharks. I was curious to see how it measured up to the 3E principle. As it comes from the Smithsonian Institute, I could assumn that this would not be yet another gratuitious ‘shark with big jaws' book. Similar in style to the Seahorse book above, it tells the tale of a young Great White, moulding fact with a storylike theme. From four miles away, the Great White senses a dead whale being devoured by less dominant but older sharks, and comes in for its share. But little remains and she goes off searching for food. A school of Bass are not so fortunate. A sealion spots th Great Whale, and taunts her from the kelp. A school of Tuna pass by and the young Great White has food. "Month after month White Shark hunts. Her teeth grow wider and stronger. Her sleek gray body growns longer and stouter. Month after mkonths she grows more powerful, more skillful at the hunt. .... She is White Shark, ruler of the sea". Okay, lets look at th three ‘E's. It is light on education, high on entertainment (but for an older child), and so-so on encouragement. It is the parent who needs the encouragement, to supplement the tale with an understanding of the role that the Great White has in the sea, a role that is not simply a killing and eating machine. I don't think a child would appreciate this without additional input from the parent. If we must illustrate the ‘blood and guts' theme of shark predatorship, then we must indicate a cause, and bring in the ‘food chain of nature'. Its not pleasant, but it exists. Therefore, if the book was followed up with other more enlightening texts, then we may have educated the child. Format: Softcover, very well ilustrated in full colour, oblong format 290 x 215 mm, 32 pages. Theme: A factual tale told in a storylike fashion. Ideal to be read to a young child. Text is large and clear for the young reader. Ages: For children six to ten. It may be wasted on a younger child as the images of the predatorship of the shark may be too strong to overcome the ‘wise education' of the parent. If it is to conform to the three ‘E's, it needs a parent's involvement. |
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THE
HIDDEN FOREST
Jeannie Baker. Walker Books, Sydney, Australia. Hardcover, laminated boards, 36 pages, A4 size, on 120 gsm art paper, beautifully illustrated in full colour throughout. An excellent books as it perfectly demonstrates the three ‘E's of Education, Entainment and Encouragement. The book is set in the superb kelp forests off the Tasman Peninsula on the central east coast of Tasmania, which really do exist and are some of he most fascinating in the world, hundreds of feet tall. It tells of a young boy pulling up a trap for a feed of fish when it snags and he is flipped out of his little dinghy. Face down in the water, he sees a blurry alient world. He is scared, and scrambles back into the boat. He needs to recover the trap and asks a young friend to help. Sophie is a snorkel diver, and encourages young Ben to freedive with her, so h can see the marvels of the underwater world. Ben is concernd about what may be lurking below, but he gives it his best shot. "To his surprise Ben finds himself floating above a mysterious underwater forest that sways back and forth with the rolling of the waves". Ben is engrossed in his new world. The fish trap is released and brought to th surface. "But now, Ben sees things differently.... He sees how wonderful these creatures are here in their mysterious, hidden world. He feels this is where they belong". Quite superb, brings a tear to the eye. Good on you Ben and Sophie. Theme: Fiction. Its strength is in the storyline - the ability to overcome an initial fear and the understanding of a different world which leads to a change of attitude. The final page also has a brief description of the kelp forest and where it grows. As Tasmania is losing some of its majestic forests, (land as well as kelp),perhaps there is a conservationist theme about this book. I have no problem with that. Ages: For children five upward. Ideal for parent-reading or the young reader. [ps] |
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THE
IRON DOCTOR A Story of Deep Water Diving.
Agnes Danforth Hewes Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston,1940 Hard cover, no dust jacket my copy - not sure of there was one, illustrated board covers; 234 pages. basic line drawings throughout This story of deep water diving, with illustrations, of a young diver and his adventures while working on the foundations of the great San Francisco Bridge. Not sure if this is a fictional ‘story' or a factual account of diving whilst the bridge was being constructed. 24 July 2007 - this information kindly posted by Scott Mayeda in the USA (thankyou Scott): Just FYI, The Iron Doctor by Hewes is based on true events of Master Diver Bill Reed building the San Francisco Bay bridge. There is some information on line under his name, but the best I found is: www.newbaybridge.org/history/from_high_steel.html [ps-red]
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THE
JAVA WRECKMEN
Frank Crisp Published by: Hodder and Stoughton, London in 1955. Hard back with dustjacket; 190 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 13 cms wide. When Dirk Rogers, deep sea diving expert and captain of his own small salvage vessel, takes an emergency job off the coast of Java, he does not realise that he will be diving straight into trouble. Then he discovers that both the divers who have been employed on the job have died underwater - and may there not be some connection between these deaths and that of another member of the salvage company, at the the hands of the followers of the mysterious terrorist, the Hatu. (Taken from dustjacket). Sadly the only illustration the book has is the frontise which is identical to the picture on the dustjacket. [pt] |
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THE
LOG OF THE FLYING FISH
Subtitle: A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and Adventure Harry Collingwood Published by: Blackie & Sons Ltd, London originally published 1887 Hard cover, illustrated boards; 384 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 13 cms wide I’m not sure when this edition of the book was published but I think possibly in the 1920’s from the style of prints as there are no dates or inscription in my copy. The cover is illustrated showing a helmet diver confronting four huge conger eels. A rough outline of the tale is a German professor and an Englishmen use a revolutionary airship that is capable of not just flying but also doubles as a submarine and goes beneath the waves. The airship is made from a new material that is very light but extremely strong and capable of withstanding terrific pressures in the depths of the sea. They visit the North Pole, come across some interesting shipwrecks, depose a king in Africa and even fly to the top of Mount Everest. The book is divided into 24 chapters and there are 5 full page prints, one of which, the frontispiece, is in colour. [pt] Note: PT advises that there are three 'Flying Fish' books in this juvenile series by Harry Collingwood. If you have the thir one, please let me know. |
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THE
LOST GALLEON
W Bert Foster Published in 1901 the Penn Publishing Company in Philadelphia (USA) in 1901 Illustrated by: J. Steeple Davis Binding - Hard back with illustrated covers, 363 printed pages Dimensions:19 cms tall by 13 cms wide Illustrated juvenile book with a diver illustration on the front cover and four illustrations inside, sadly none showing divers. [pt]
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THE
LOST GOLD BARS
Wilfred Robertson First published in 1946 by Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxfor University Press, UK. Hardcover, dustjacket (image left top), 184 pages, six full-page mono line drawings illustrated by S. Drigin.. Written in 20 chapters (both editons). From the fly of the first edition 1946: During the war a fabulous amount of treasure of all sorts was sent to the bottom of the sea, and no doubt, in the years immediately ahead, attempts will be made, wherever it is accessible, to raise it. This story describes one such attempt to salvage a valuable consignment of geld bars that had been sunk somewhere off the South African coast. A vessel is sent to locate it; the wreck is found, and divers, equipped with modern scientific devices, explore the sea.bed. Eventually the gold is raised; but as carrion draws the vultures, so the rumour of vast wealth being retrieved brings unscrupul- ous adventurers on the scene: the claim of the salvage company is jumped, and for a second time the gold bars are lost. All search for them is vain until Simon Teesdale, 2nd mate of the salvage vessel, investigating on his own account, finds a clue that leads him to a solution of the mystery- and to the substantial reo; ward that had been offered. for the recovery of the gold. Second edition published by: William Collins Sons, London in 1964. Hardback with dustjacket, 188 printed pages, no illustrations. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 12.5 cms wide. Cover designer not credited. Also thetre is no mention of the first edition of 1946 (naughty!!!). The publishers, Collins, have resorted to listing the bok as 'First printed in this edition 1964', which infers a previous edition - but they do not state when. From the fly of the 1964 edition: A routine salvage operation is suddenly and violently interrupted when the SS Madui is attacked by pirates. The stakes are high, one million pounds worth of gold bars, and a gang of ruthless men have no hesitation in casting the Madui's crew adrift in open boats, to perish from thirst and exposure in burning tropical waters. The Salvage men are determined to survive and one of them, Simon Teesdale, has sworn to recover the gold and bring the murderers to justice. The story of this long search for the missing gold is one of mystery and adventure, told in masterly fashion by Wilfred Robertson. [pt-19640],[ps-both] |
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THE
PEARL DIVERS AND CRUSOES OF THE SARGASSO SEA
Gordon Stables (Surgeon Royal Navy) James Nisbet & Co., London. No date - would suggest early 20th century. (My copy is a First Prize presentation award, dated 1907.) Hardcover, no dust jacket, embossed green cloth boards with title only, 334 pages gilt edged, 18 pages of book advertisments, colour painting for frontispiece illustrating a scene from the book. Published as a ‘Book for Young Readers'. The first question one asks, if indeed there is someone to answer it, when handling a book such as this for the first time, is "Is it all true?"' Being a book for young boy readers, as the author defines the gender of his expected readership, does not imply a lack of veracity, but it would be of benefit to the serious reader to know whether the book was pure fiction, fiction based on fact, or fact. In this instance the author obliges us with the answer: "I answer as best I can. Now, no tale in the world is ever "all true": it would not be a story if it were, would it?. Now I want to tell you right away, that most of my people or heroes in this story have had their proptypes, and I have tried to paint then from life". So there you have it. I have not read thebook, but in delving into a page here and there it appears to be very well written and of fine entertainment for anyone interested in seafaring. The author has written ten other books for young (boy) readers. |
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THE
PEARL DIVERS OF RONCADOR REEF AND OTHER STORIES
Louis Becke. Published by: James Clarke, London, 1908. Hard cover, illustrated boards, 284 printed pages. Dimensions: 20 cms tall by 12.5 cms wide A collection of short stories by the author, starting with a short story of the same name as the book, written in seven chapters. The cover has a nice print of a diver coming up with a bag of pearls, the spine shows a pearl lugger and an open pearl shell with pearls. Short stories include: “The Pearl Divers of Roncador Reef”, “Jim Trollope and Myself”, “For the Benefit of Sailors’ Kids”, “The Manuria and Marguerite: A Tale of Two Sharkers”, “A Blackbirding Incident”, “A Strange Rencontre”, “Crowley and Drake, Limited”, “Neridia, The Maid of Suwarrow”, “My South Sea Gardens”, “A Prospecting Party in North Queensland” and “A Quick Vengeance”. Unfortunately, the book has very few illustrations. [pt]
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THE
PEARL FISHERS AND OTHER STORIES
Published by: Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd, London, 1936. Hardback with illustrated cover, 186 printed pages. Dimensions: 23 cms tall by 18 cms wide. This large format juvenile book of short stories has a splendid cover coloured drawing of a breath hold pearl divers and a "hard hat" pearl diver looking on. The first story is actually the main title of the book called "The Pearl Fishers" and is a story of pearl fishing by J T Gorman set in Australia. The book features many diagrams with diving content as well as the cover. The book seems to have two title pages, one has an illustration of a diver and an attendant, the second contains a series of diving details used as a border, I managed to use this for a dinner menu once for a diving club event. This is possibly due to the fact there is a second story containing diving content, "The City Beneath The Sea" by Phyllis Megroz - the search for the lost city of Atlantis. All the stories in the book are "The Pearl Fishers", "Captain Scatterlog's Blunder", "The Last Chase", "Sea Scout Morrison's Cup", "The Secret of St. Christophers", "The Island of Grey Things", "In the Desert", "The City Beneath The Sea" and "On The Punjab Mail". As well as the coloured cover, there are two colour prints in the book, sadly nothing to do with the diving but the two diving stories are illustrated with many line drawings, some divers. [pt] |
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THE
PEARLERS OF LORNE
Gurney Slade Published by: Thomas Nelson & Sons, London c1925. Printed hard covers; 250 printed pages Dimensions: 18.5 cms tall by 12 cms wide Not sure of the publication date of the book as there are no dates or inscriptions to help. A juvenile tale about an Englishman trying his hand at pearl diving in Australia. The cover shows a pearl diver above the gunnels of what I guess is a pearling lugger with two attendants looking on. It has 14 chapters and only one monochrome print of a couple of pearling luggers in sail. [pt] |
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THE
PIRATE ISLAND
Harry Collingwood. Mono illustrations by C.J. Staniland and J.R. Wells. Scribner and Welford, NY. No date, c1910. Hardcover, illustrated cover and spine. "Bob heard the cry, saw the danger, and had just time to struggle clear of the wreck and pass under her stern when the breaker burst upon them. Blinded, stunned, and breathless, he felt himself whirled helplessly hither and thither, while a load like that of a mountain seemed to rest upon him and press him down. * Clad in oilskins the hearty rescuers fought the lashing waves, seeing the few survivors of the wrecked ship huddled on the remaining boards, drenched by the freezing sea. For the poor survivors brought to shore, children among them, the rescue by the brave fisherman is only a foretaste of things to come . . . for some among them will face dire risks once again at sea -- at the hands of the desperate men of Albatross Island." How could you not want to read on?? William Joseph Cosens Lancaster (1851-1922) was a civil engineer who specialised in seas and harbours. He wrote Juvenile Adventures under the pseudonym Harry Collingwood. His works include: The Secret of the Sands (1879), Under the Meteor Flag: Log of a Midshipman During the French Revolutionary War (1884), The Voyage of the Aurora (1885), The Pirate Island: A Story of the West African Coast (1885), The Congo Rovers: A Story of the Slave Squadron (1886), The Log of the Flying Fish: A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril and Adventure (1887), The Rover s Secret: A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba (1888), The Missing Merchantman (1889), The Doctor of the Juliet (1892), Jack Beresford s Yarn (1896), For Treasure Bound (1897), The Log of a Privateersman (1897), The Homeward Voyage (1897). [ps] |
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THE
RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS
Roy Rockwood. Illustrator: A.B. Shute Grosset & Dunlap, New York , 1905. Hardcover, dustjacket; 253 pages. I know nothing of this book, the only details provided here by a bookseller. The illustrated boards cover shows a tall ship; the spine may show a diving helmet - it was hard to tell from the sales image. To what extent it contains diving material I have no idea. I presume juvenile fiction. Illustrated boards as shown; also have seen ship in pale green on dull buff background. Apparently rare. Frontis is a black and white illustration, caption reads: "The terrific mouth of the monster was wide open". Story has been written especially for such boys : " ..a search for a hidden treasure is certain to be a fascinating one, and when the treasure is located at the bottom of the great ocean the quest is bound to become more or less perilous." |
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THE
SAILOR
Subtitle: A Ladybird Easy Reading Book - People at Work I & J Havenhand. Illustrated by: John Berry Published by: Wills & Hepworth Ltd, Loughborough, UK in 1967.
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THE
SHADOW IN THE POND
Ron Roy; pictures By Gil Cohen Scholastic, year ? (ISBN: 0590313045 / 0-590-31304-5) Paperback, illustrated cover. From a sales blurb: Hard to find. Kid reader, juvenile subject matter for today's enthusiastic readers. Story is fresh and compelling. Ideal for school aged readers. Lightweight tales that will intrigue young minds. |
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THE
SILVER SALVORS
Subtitle: A Tale of Treasure Lost and Found
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THE
STRANGE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN QUINN
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SONS
OF THE SEA
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THE
TREASURE DIVERS: A BOY'S ADVENTURES IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.
Charles Frederick Holder. Illustrations by Walter G. Greenough. New York, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1898. Hardcover. 8vo. Frontispiece and 12 full page illustrations; . 207 pages. Original blue pictorial cloth stamped in silver and black with design of a submarine diving. |
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THE
TREASURE HUNT OF THE S-18
Tim Murphy Reporter Series #4, Graham M Dean.
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THE
TREASURE OF THE CORAL REEF
Don Stanford Funk and Wagnall's; 1956. Hardback, dustjacket, 193 pages. Skindiving in Bermuda. |
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THE
TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF PEARL DIVERS IN AUSTRALIA
Hugh Edwards. Publisher:Paul Hamlyn Date:1972 Title: The Triumphs and Tragedies of Pearl Divers of Australia 75 pages Hardcover,printed boards Description: Juvenile non fiction book about pearl diving in Australia written by Australian Author Hugh Edwards who has authored several books on shipwrecks and the pearling industry around Australia |
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THE
UNDERWATER MAN
Douglas V. Duff. Blackie & Son Ltd., London and Glasgow. No date but 1950s I'd suggest. Hardcover, dustjacket, 240 pages. A boys-own adventure yarn. From the blurb: Bob Fowler is tile senior cadet of the 12,ooo-ton cargo-liner, Forsby Manor, and by sheer chance discovers an attempt to sabotage his ship while she is loading 'cargo in London Docks. He foils the frogman who is trying to fix "limpet" charges to the bilge-keels and, afterwards, is used by Scotland Yard and M.I.S to act as bait in their trap, which they have set to catch the members of the sinister organization spected of many such attempts. Bob passes through many dangers, both in Dorset and on Dartmoor, but his greatest test comes after Forsby Manor sails, when it quickly becomes evident that the head of the organization, already smashed by Bob's earlier efforts, is aboard and eager for revenge. The story ends with a thrilling episode in the Eastern Mediterranean .p.nd Forsby Manor sails on with her precious cargo, delivered from the evil which had overshadowed her. [pt],[ps] Thats interesting re-breather gear that the fellow has on, but what on Earth is on his hands - that would be a new idea for inreased underwater speed!!! |
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THE
WRECK HUNTERS
Stephen Mogridge. Illustrated by Robert Johnston. Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd. London, New York etc. 1958 Hardcover, dustjacket, 122 pages. |
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TREASURE
AND TREASURE HUNTERS.
Ed. Richard Armstrong. Hamish Hamilton Ltd, London. 1969. Hardcover, dustjacket. 206 pages, no illustrations. A collection of essays and short stories on "treasure", with respecte authors such as Allan Poe, H.H.Wells, Arthur C.Clarke, Jack London, Victor Hugo, Robert Louis Stevenson, Christopher Lloyd, Sir Robert H.Davis, Robert Charroux, Richard Armtrong, W.H.Prescott, Edmund Burke. A delightful read. [ps] |
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TREASURE
AT TWENTY FATHOMS.
Patrick O'Connor Washburn (publishers), New York. 1961. Fiction : Juvenile audience : English. |
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TREASURE
IN DEVON
Eric Leyland. Illustrated by: E. Spring Smith Published by: Blackie and Sons, London c1954. (Book not dated but inscription dated 1954) Hardback with dustjacket; 254 printed pages. Dimensions: 19 cms tall by 13 cms wide. The "boys" find themselves staying with their detective story-telling uncle at an old house on the Devonshire coast. Even the house has its mysteries, with a door that opens of its own accord, a secret chamber and a cryptic inscription. The neighbouring tenant of Spanish Farm is another mystery, so the boys have plenty, besides ordinary holiday occupations, to keep their active minds at work. One thing leads to another - the trail being eagerly followed and each mystery being involved with the rest - and presently the possibility that an Armada galleon lies in the bay contributes to the excitement. Of course the boys are mixed up with everything and eventually even the police admit that they have helped. The Spanish Farm problem ends sensationally, so does the search for the wrecked galleon, and on its way to the climax the story is full of minor thrills and plenty of fun. (Comments inside dustjacket). Written in 14 chapters, the book has four greyscale full page plates, none divers except the dustjacket. [pt] |
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TREASURES
IN THE DEPTHS
Robert Uhl. Prentice-Hall Inc. New York, 1955. Library of Congress 55-7322. Indicates first published 1957 by Olbourne Book Co, London. (Not so, should read fist published in Great Britain 1957). (Image) Hardcover, dustjacket, 216 pages, mono photographs. The fact that this book has actual photographs of divers in standard dress, and locations where treasure is sought, lends some credibility to the 'non-fiction' status of the book. The book tells of treasure located and recovered by a young diver from the Dona Isabella, written in the style of a novel, but probably based on fact. The photographs are factual and include several of the famous diver (and author) E.R.Cros, late of the Sparling School of Deep-Sea Diving. The book is published in the World Adventure Library series, so perhaps the author was directed to use a third-party novel approach. The author is a non-fiction writer - see The Treasures in the Depths. [ps] |
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THRILLS
OF THE SEVEN SEAS
No author listed on title page. Pubished by Dean & Son Ltd., London. No date: suggest 1940s. Hardcover, picture boards (no dustjacket), 124 pages, medium format, thick porpous paper, eights pages of mono photographs on gloss paper, including the launching of the Queen Mary, and other ships, many line drawings. This is a boys book, and a very good one it is - I would have been delighed to have read this as a lad. Chapters include Grim Mystery; Race of the Ocean Giants; Pirates of the Panama; Frozen Menace; Brigands of the Seaways; The Secret of Dead Man's Deep; Castaways and Stowayas; Raiding Davy Jones; For the Freedom of the Seas. That this is a ‘boy's own adventure' book does not detract from its factual interest for adults, and the ‘Davy Jones' chapter covers the loss of vessels such as the Lutine, Moltke, Birkenhead, Egypt, Lusitania, and Hidenburg. [ps - my copy was apparently thoroughly enjoyed by its young reader as it has the occassional scribble mark, and is well read] |
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TURN
TO THE SEA
Athelstan Spilhaus Published by: Whitman Publishing Company, Wisconsin, USA in 1962. (A Whitman Learnabout Book) Hard back with illustrated covers – 59 printed pages Dimensions: 21.5 cms tall by 15.5 cms wide. This small book is adapted for young readers by Eileen Daly from a book of the same name by Athelstan Spilhaus, first published in 1959. It is well illustrated with many photographs and naïve drawings that are aimed at the juvenile. Divided into 10 chapters: “What’s Down There”, “Birth of the Oceans”, “Sea Explorers”, “Depthmen into the Deep”, “Strange Creatures of the Deep”, “Treasure from the Sea”, “The Ocean: Friend or Foe?”, “Stations in the Sea”, “Ocean Forcasting” and “It’s Fun to Know”. Credits in the book for help include Marine Studios in Florida, the U S Navy and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. [pt] |
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UNDER
THE SEA
Becca Saunders Young Reed, an imprint of New Holland. (United Book Distributors), Chatswood, Australia. Published in 2008. Hardcover, laminated boards, A4 size, 48 pages, full colour throughout, index. When I heard that there was a new marine book for children coming out on the Austrakian market I was not over enthusiastic to say the least, as good kids books on the natural sciences are few and far between, but as soon as realised that the author was Becca Saunders I had not hesitation in including it on our list. Becca is an Aussie, well known for her excellent photography and writing. In keeping with my three ‘E's' ofevaluation, I must say that this book meets all the criteria, of educating the young reader, encouraging the reader, and entertaining. It is idea for any child, irrespective of their present interest in the sea, and surely must be the ideal gift from any mum and dad who is a diver, for they will most certainly appreciate the beauty of the exotic world beneath the seas. This may be just the thing to encourage them to go and have a look for themselves. Becca has, as I would expect, not dwelt on the tropical speciaes only, for much of the book is on temperate water fishes and invertebrates. Amongst the colourful chapters are ‘Among the Seagrass, Kelp and Algae', ‘Wild, Weird and Rare', ‘When the Lights Go Out', ‘Partnerships in the Sea', etc. A great book. [ps] |
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UNDERWATER
ADVENTURE
Willard Price Published by The Children's Book Club, London. No date; probably late 1940s, pre Pacific War. Hardcover, dustjacket, 204 pages. This is definatley fiction, but how much is based on fact. The search is on for a Spanish galleon lying for hundreds of years on the seabed among the Japanese islands of the Pacific. (That puts it in the Micronesia area). "Their expedition is well equipped,a nd the boys have the opportunity of testing the various types ofg apparatus perfected by such pioneers as William Beebe and Captain Cousteau, including the aqualung and the underwater sled." The author by the way is well known for his non-fiction books on Japan and the Pacific. [ps] |
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UNDERWATER
EXPLORATION
A Ladybird Book, Series: 601, hardback. First published in 1967. Text by Richard Bowood with illustrations by B. Knight. Published by Wills & Hepworth Ltd., Loughborough. The illustrations are in colour. Forty pages of drawings of divers and equipment, tracing the history of underwater exploration. Written for children. |
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UP
FROM THE SEA. The Story of Salvage Operations.
Nora Stirling and illustrated by Herman Vestal. Adolescent book. Copyright of 1963. Hardcover, dust jacket. "A lost ship is raised slowly through the water which, for days or many years, buried her. Though she may have sunk in a few minutes' time, teams of divers and technicians have worked months to welcome her up from the sea. One hundred and fifty years ago, when the diving helmet was invented, men were enabled for the first time to repair damaged ship hulls and retrieve lost treasure from the deep. Since the early days of diving, men have gradually learned more about underwater salvage work and have devised many ingenious methods of saving vessels, cargoes, and lives. Up From the Sea tells the story of 400 years of salvage operations, and illustrates the tremendous progress men have made in this field. Factual accounts of salvaging the Maine, the Mary Rose, a sailing ship in the fleet of Henry VIII of England, the submarine Squalus trapped under 243 feet of stormy water, the destruction at Pearl Harbor and the capsized liner Normandie are but a few of the chapters of this deep-sea adventure in which no two projects are alike--and all are exciting." (Ebay description) |
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VALLEY
OF THE EELS
Ty Heintze Eakin Press, Austin, Texas, USA. 1993. Young scuba divers Shawn and Billy follow a friendly dolphin to a domed installation in an ocean canyon, where they meet a strange creature. |
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WANNABE
A DIVER
Neil Morris Published by: Miles Kelly Publishing, Great Barfield, UK in 1997. Illustrated hard cover, no dustjacket; 22 printed pages. Dimensions: 25.5 cms tall by 17 cms wide This is a really fun book for a children with an interest in diving. The owner is directed to put a passport type photo in a marked square on the back of the front cover and the inside of the back cover. This coincides with a hold cut in every page which contains a coloured drawing of various different divers - the picture on the cover is also included on one of the pages to get the idea. There are twenty such pictures and the owner proceeds from coloured drawings learning to swim to snorkelling, learning scuba, finding sunken treasure, in a shark cage, underwater photography, work underwater, atmospheric suits and even at the porthole of a submarine. There are two other similar books in the “wannabe” series called Wannabe a Vet and Wannabe an Explorer. [pt] Phil adds a personal comment: This is an absolutely fantastic kids book. I bought a stack of these in an end of line book shop for a pound each. What I did was give them to kids who came and learnt snorkeling or had a trial dive with me and also a few "juvenile like" adults too! Sadly this is the last one and I'm keeping this one as I'm a "juvenile adult". PS comment: a real treasure, and what a great encouragement that Phil gave to the kids. |
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WARNE'S
ADVENTURE BOOK FOR BOYS
Edited by: John England Published by: Frederick Warne & Co Ltd, London c1930. (No date or inscription) Printed hard cover. Pages not numbered. Dimensions: 25.5 cms tall by 19.5 cms wide This is a really nice adventure book for boys but despite having the underwater scene on the cover and the diver on the spine brandishing a large axe, there is no diving content. The book has no numbers on the pages but has four coloured plates and countless monochrome line drawings. [pt] |
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WISH
FOR A FISH - All About Sea Creatures
Bonnie Worth. Illustrated by Aristides Ruiz. What child doesn't know about Dr Seuss' Cat in a Hat, the grumpy skinny feline who does not particularly like green cheese and ham. In this wonderful tale for children of all ages, Cat takes a trip down under and introduces us to the wonderful sea creatures in the Sunny Zone, the Twilight Zone, the Dark Zone, and the deep Abyss. "I'm the Cat in the Hat, and I hear you wish to go down to the sea and visit the fish". Format: Hardcover, 48 pages, full colour throughout. Theme: A fun book of rhyme in traditional Seuss style, with delightful drawings, an ideal story. Ages: From two to a hundred and two. |
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WOLFIE
THE WOLF-EEL.
Written and illustrated by Jacqueline Vickery Stanley. Tangara Publishing, Seattle, USA. Hardcover, dust-jacket, fully illustrated in colour throughout, 34 pages. Love 'em or leave 'em, Wolf-eels are the bull terriers of the sea, maligned and misunderstood because - well, they ain't exactly beautiful are they? But like my old bully Baxter, Wolfie is a loveable creature who just wants to have a home and be loved. Released from the aquarium into the northern Pacific Ocean. (He doesn't like giving out his address but I know it is in British Columbia - somewhere in these beautiful waters). Wolfie has problems finding friends and a new home. But then he meets Ella and he lives happily ever after in cohabitated bliss. This is a great kids story, with large colourful paintings of interest to any child. The author is Australian and a prominent diver, photographer and educationalist now living in the USA. Within the fantasy biography of Wolfie lies an accurate life that has been verified by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Centre, so young readers not only have a wonderful tale, but learn something of the life of the eel. A wonderful combination, and one which Jacqueline Stanley will exploit with further books. If you are a diver, and you have children, this book is a must. [ps] See The Dragons of Kangaroo Island, above. |
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YOUNG
EXPLORERS OF THE SEA AND BEYOND.
Theo . Brown. World Life Books, Newport Beach, NSW, Australia. 1984. ISBN 0 949312 00 2. Hardcover, dustjacket, 226 pages, colour prints. Documents the true adventures in exotic lands and the exploration of the oceans, as the Author and his youthful assistants research along Australia's Great Barrier Reef, in Northern Scotland, and in Morocco and Egypt. Also examins the author's investigations with young people and psychic phenomenon through thge aid of hyynosis and how for the first time in history it has been possible to move a person forward though time to witness future events under controlled research conditions. That came from the blurb on th back of the book. I am not sure about this Theo Brown, hence the book is listed here in the section for adolescents - and fiction. |
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