I Love Boats by Flora McDonnell (Walker Books) This lavishly illustrated book displays a range of vessels from houseboat to dredger, and is ideal for introducing children to 'all things afloat'.
The Little Boat by Kathy Henderson (Walker Books) The story of a little boy who makes a boat from polystyrene and plays happily with it until a wave drags it into the huge ocean to be tossed through 'uneasy' seas amidst roaring winds. It lands on a far shore to be picked up by a little girl. Lilting language carries the little boat throughout the journey. Definitely a book for aspiring boat builders!
Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen (Picture Puffin) Was it the cow or the donkey or the sheep with her knitting? Surely it wasn't the tiny little mouse? Children will have fun trying to guess which animal spoiled a day's rowing.
The Green Ship by Quentin Blake (Red Fox) Children love to create fantasy scenarios, and this story about two 'bold adventurers' who find a ship made of bushes at the end of the overgrown garden next door will encourage them to play out their own fantasies. It is relatively long, but pacey enough to capture the interest of young children. Quentin Blake's familiar style of illustrations abound and bring this magical world to life. Read it outdoors in a dark secret place before embarking on the creation of fantasy boats or ships.
Mr Gumpy's Outing by John Burningham (Red Fox) First children, then a rabbit, a cat, a dog, a pig and a sheep join Mr Gumpy for an outing on the river. But with the boat precariously full, there's nowhere for anyone else to go - except overboard!
The Night Pirates written by Peter Harris illustrated by Deborah Allwright (Egmont Books) Tom wakes up one night and peeps out the window to see pirates outside his house. Stranger still, they're girl pirates. Tom joins them on their adventure across the high seas to an island in search of treasure.
Sailor Bear by Martin Waddell (Walker Books) Another boat-building story. Feeling lost and lonely, Small Bear is motivated by the sailor suit he is wearing to build a boat and go to sea. Using pieces of wood and half a barrel salvaged from the beach, he completes his boat and sets sail on the park lake. The calm water soon becomes rough and the boat shatters, leaving a sad Small Bear to swim ashore. A happy ending is assured when a little girl discovers the sleeping bear and takes him home with her. Illustrations of the barrel boat and a paper boat will encourage designers.
Ships and Boats by Peter Curry (Picture Lions) Police tugs to pirate ships feature in this little book, along with Peter Curry's familiar animal characters. The naughty crocodile is a pirate, the penguin policemen are on the prowl and the cheeky mice are up to no good.
Brilliant Boats by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker (Kingfisher) Ferry boats to ocean liners feature in this fun-filled picture book with catchy rhyming text and familiar Mitton animal characters as crew. Scientific information is subtly introduced - for example, when a boat floats like 'an empty bowl or cup' because it is 'empty and full of air and that's what keeps it up'.
Boat by Eric Kentley (Eyewitness Guides, Dorling Kindersley) A look into the world of boats, rafts and ships, past and present, from hollowed-out logs to luxury liners. Includes a history of the development of boats.
Cutaway Boats by Christopher Maynard (Cutaways, Usborne Publishing) Illustrative book showing the interiors of a range of boats.
