Part of a series examining how science and technology have enabled vast progress in all fields of human endeavour. The book shows all stages of the development of ships and boats from first examples to the modern day and the future.

Buying a 42' ferro-cement boat for £1500 and what started as a retort to a wind-up led to the adventure of a lifetime. RYA Yachtmaster Max Liberson had been drawn to the sea all his life, but it was the chance acquisition of a yacht that apparently only he could see the potential of that allowed him to fulfil a dream. What followed was a true story of ingenuity, persistence and more anecdotal tales of woe than most sailors would want to admit to as their own. For anyone aiming to make a similar voyage, the story goes into detail of his plans beforehand and the many pitfalls and triumphs he encountered on his 9-month round trip from Battlesbridge in Essex over to the Carribean.

A bright flotilla awaits in this exciting nonfiction board book-- perfect for toddlers who love things that go, go, go! Rowboats, canoes, sailboats, speedboats, cruise ships, submarines, tugboats, and more! Boats come in all sizes and we use them in different ways: for recreation, for transportation, and even for police work and fighting fires. Learn all about boats, how they move, and what we use them for in this sturdy, bright board book by an award-winning children's author. Don't miss Gail Gibbons' other exciting board book transportation titles, including Trucks, Planes, and Bicycles! Acclaimed nonfiction author Gail Gibbons "has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator" according to The Washington Post. These accessible, kid-friendly introductions to the world around us are now available in board-book form, simplified and formatted for the youngest readers and designed to spark their curiosity.

Besides the sea, on Mr Peffer's place, there lived a cow, a donkey, a sheep, a pig, and a tiny little mouse. One warm sunny morning for no particular reason, they decided to go for a row in the bay . . .

It seemed like a good idea. Tired of everyday life ashore, Farley Mowat would find a sturdy boat in Newfoundland and roam the salt sea over, free as a bird. What he found was the worst boat in the world, and she nearly drove him mad. The Happy Adventure, despite all that Farley and his Newfoundland helpers could do, leaked like a sieve. Her engine only worked when she felt like it. Typically, on her maiden voyage, with the engine stuck in reverse, she backed out of the harbour under full sail. And she sank, regularly. How Farley and a varied crew, including the intrepid lady who married him, coaxed the boat from Newfoundland to Lake Ontario is a marvellous story. The encounters with sharks, rum-runners, rum and a host of unforgettable characters on land and sea make this a very funny book for readers of all ages.

The question "What am I?" and a linked written clue invite kids to lift the first portion of the folded page to reveal another clue and more of the featured boat, and then a final fold-out shows the entire vessel. Featured boats include: sailboat, tugboat, ocean liner, rowboat, ferry, houseboat, and barge. Full color.