Customer Reviews

Seabird

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first read this book about thirty years ago, and would regularly re-visit it and other titles by this author, until I grew out of so called picture books. That I can still recall the pictures from Seabird, and the images that the cast in my mind testify to the quality of the writing. The journey from coastal whaling off Nantucket, to Greenland, the Pacific and the Yankee clippers that have forged their way into Legend, ending with one of the protaganists and his grandchild on a steamship in the 1920s will never leave me. Books like this should never die or be forgotten. You owe it to your children to make sure they read it.

From its inception in the 1940's, Seabird has offered children of all ages a rich blend of New World nautical history, from tall-masted ships to steamships, all woven into an adventure of global exploration by sea. Highly recommended.

To this day Seabird evokes sights and sounds of whaling days and early coal-powered ships. I smell the greased hemp lines and the rendered blubber, the sulphurous fumes of steamers, kelp, and the sea itself.

The early youth, perhaps reading alone or read to, becomes a lean young sailor, develops character, and passes into old age through four generations -- a most remarkable transition when one knows so little of aging or history. Holling was a master author, first of Paddle to the Sea, later of more land-based novels, each rich in full-page color images.

Any of Holling C. Holling books are worthy of a space on your personal library shelf. "Seabird" is a wonderful story celebrating the art of sailing as passed down generation by generation while exploring topics of geography, sea life, geology, and history. It engages the mind and investigates new interests. The illustrations are impressive and intriguing.

I loved this book as a child. I bought 9 copies to give to my kids. They loved it too.

A problem is that the colors in the paperback version are not as brilliant as the original hardcopy of 50 years ago.

I haven't forgotten it in the 20 years since I last read it. I'm ordering it right now to read it with my sons. This is a lyrical book that can survive a post-politically-correct viewing without losing any of its character.

Although not as good as Paddle to the Sea, Pagoo, or Minn of the Mississippi, Seabird is worth reading. We learned a lot about the whaling industry and the illistrations are always detailed and informative.

I was asked by a friend what my favorite book was growing up. It didn't take long for me to respond. I happened upon Seabird in a tiny public library when I was a kid. It danced so vividly that I continued checking it out over and over again. Of the countless times I've read it, I have never had the pleasure of owning it. Thanks goodness for the internet, right. I'm going to share this with the children in my life and hope that it touches thier hearts as it did mine.

I enjoyed this book as a kid..my kids enjoyed it growing up, now it's time for the grandkids to enjoy it!

Holling writes GREAT adventure stories that provoke kids to think of the big picture as well as the details! I love his books, ever since I was little. I bought this book to pass along its wealth and beauty to the next generation in our family.

The Holling Clancy Holling books: Pagoo, Minn of the Mississippi, Paddle to the Sea, and Seabird, were my childhood favorites, especially Seabird,because of my love of the sea, and, because somehow I identified with the main character, Ezra. These books all have a similar format: They have a fictional story, a kind of historical or wildlife novel - very well researched, and appropriate for about third grade or older. They are large books: nine by 12 inches, and,when you open them they have a one page chapter on the left page, and a beautiful, full-size, detailed, water-color painting on the right page. There are also, at least one, and usually several, black and white drawings in the margins of the left page. Some of these marginal illustrations show scenes from the story and others contain technical or scientific information with notes. They are all beautiful and fascinating. I still enjoy rereading them at age 60.
For pure artistic quality these might be the best children's books ever written! As illustrated books the are the equal of any I have seen, even including the stunning Rockwell Kent books like North by East. The information contained is also very thorough and interesting, especially to a kid who loves science and technology and history. Even at 70 years old the books don't seem dated.
Some of these books have been reprinted in paperback and one reviewer mentioned the the colors didn't look as bright as in the originals. If true, this is very sad, but often the case in reprinted children's classics. It is probably best to by a used hard-cover copy. Make sure it comes with a dust jacket.