(4) 4-6 Illustrated by John Pendray. Text by Anne Jankeliowitch. French photographer Plisson has devoted his life to photographing ships and oceans all over the world. Each of this large-format book's double-page spreads includes a stunning oversize photograph supplemented with smaller paintings by Pendray and a brief narrative describing the subject of each photo. Since there are no transitions between the two-page chapters, the book is best for browsing.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Adapted by Robert Burleigh. Illustrated by Emmanuel Cerisier. Photographs by Philip Plisson. This well-designed book functions primarily as an album showcasing Plisson's exquisite photos of surfers, anglers, sailors, boats, ports, stormy seas, lighthouses, and coastlines. Spreads feature images as diverse as a shipwreck, a scuba diver, a boat race, and a young child playing on the beach. The coherent explanatory text incorporates science, geography, and history into the mix.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen