Whale Port - Hardcover

Foster, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0618547223 ISBN 13: 9780618547227

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2007

Synopsis

Long before the invention of electricity or the discovery of underground reservoirs of fossil fuels, people depended on whale oil to keep their lamps lit. A few brave Colonial farmers left their fields and headed out to sea to chase whales and profits farther and farther off shore. When they did, towns sprung up around their harbors as demand grew for sailors, blacksmiths, ropewalkers, and the many other craftsmen needed to support the growing whaling industry. Through the fictional village of Tuckanucket, Whale Port explores the history of these towns. Detailed illustrations and an informative narrative reveal the way Tuckanucket’s citizens lived and worked by sharing the personal stories of people like Zachariah Taber, his family and neighbors, and the place they called home. Whale Port is also the story of America, and the important role whales played in its history and development as people worked together to build communities that not only survived, but prospered and grew into the flourishing cities of a new nation.

About this title

About the Author:

MARK FOSTER is a museum exhibit designer who applies his broad background in history, the arts, and architecture to making history accessible to the general public. 

Review:

[A]ppealing format...colorful art and an abundance of information...this may be the most interesting work on the subject to date.
--Kirkus

Kirkus Reviews

"The Fosters, father and son, have elegantly synthesized a tremendous amount of information into a beguiling format." The Horn Book, Starred, Nov/Dec 2007 Horn Book, Starred

"This handsome title is an excellent choice for both curricular and recreational use." SLJ November 2007 School Library Journal

"A fascinating testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of the country's North Atlantic communities."--Booklist 12/1/07 Booklist, ALA

About this edition

• Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0618547223
• ISBN 13: 9780618547227
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Foster Gerald L.