Tugboats in Action [Paperback]

Timothy R. Burke (Author)

Book Description

Through this captain's-eye-view acocunt, readers will feel they are helping a harbor tug boat cope with river currents and dangerous rock walls as captain and crew tow a ship filled with grain to her dock. Timothy Burke, a working captain of a Great Lakes harbor tug, relates his story with the help of his own dramatic full-color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-From his vantage point as captain of a Great Lakes tug, Burke takes readers through a job as he and his crew pick up an enormous grain-carrying ship and guide her around the tricky bends of the Buffalo River to a grain elevator. In straightforward sentences, he explains why these boats are necessary; equipment and preparations he employs; and the hazards he must avoid, along with the difficulties of maneuvering such a large vessel. Each page is illustrated with one or more clear full-color photographs; some show closeups of important objects along with larger scenes; others carry the action across the gutter. The picture of the grain ship at the unloading dock is a bit confusing, because readers see only the middle section being pushed by the tug. Otherwise, the illustrations support and clarify the narrative. Questions and answers about Great Lakes tugboats and a glossary complete the volume. The initial letter of text on each page is surrounded by a blue box with stylized waves, which detracts rather than adds to the impact. There are many other books about boats, but there is little else that's recent and in color about tugs.
Sylvia S. Marantz, Wellington School, Columbus, OH
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 3-7. Become the newest crew member and spend the morning aboard a Great Lakes tugboat in Buffalo, New York, with the captain and crew. The day's work begins with refueling the engine and washing the deck. Then it's full ahead for the barge, which is taking grain down the narrow, twisting Buffalo River that leads into Lake Erie. The narrative's fast pace keeps the action going as the barge avoids several mishaps. Safety is very important, and all crew members wear life vests, an important factor for young readers to observe. Large color photographs detail the hard work that goes into towing, and a question-and-answer page and a glossary round out the information. Good beginning-to-read nonfiction, especially of interest to children living on or near the Great Lakes. Christie Sylvester --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807581135
• ISBN-13: 978-0807581131
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,436,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Lakes Towing Co. book, September 22, 2011

By 

Capt. Mark - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tugboats in Action (Hardcover)

A book for school kids, tugboat enthusiasts will
recognize the red and green tug as a Great Lakes
Towing Co. tug.
This makes the book much more interesting to me,
a tugboat enthusiast living here on the Great Lakes.

Even as an enthusiast, I learned about the boats,
the actual towing job and various other facts
related to working on the Great Lakes,

Well worth the money I spent on it.

Capt. Mark
Fox River Fox & Dredge