The history of America at sea is presented through the travels of Seabird, a carved ivory gull.--from the publisher
**************
When, Ezra, a Ship's Boy on a whaling vessel in 1830, spots a pure white bird while he's on watch up in the crow's nest, he takes a piece of walrus tusk and carves out his own bird and creates Seabird, a scrimshaw masterpiece. Through this little piece of scrimshaw, Seabird, we travel with Ezra and three generations of his descendants--a sailor, an engineer, and an airman--over the course of a century. Each father hands Seabird to his son from generation to generation.
Through the storyline we experience through the evolution of ships and the life of a sea-faring family from the days of whaling ships and clippers up to cruise liners and airplanes. The whaling ship descriptions can be a bit grim for some young listeners/readers.
Illustrations include cross-sections of the different vessels and gorgeous details of life at sea.
64 pages 978-0395182307 Ages 8-12
Keywords: ships, sea life, whaling, whales, steamships, clipper ships, planes, adventure, information, history
Editor's Note: Newbery Honor 1949
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
