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(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Melissa Castrillon.
"Yellow kayak. Blue sky. Paddle swiftly. Wave good-bye." Clipped, hushed rhymes follow a child and his friend, who resembles a spotted giraffe, as they set off in a rowboat. Together they brave a storm, sleep above active sea life, and square off with whales before returning home. It's a surreal, word-perfect adventure with swirling art in tweaked primary colors.
96 pp.
| Quarto/Foster
| June, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-63322-530-5$14.95
(3)
4-6
Ranger Rick Kids' Guides series.
These books present detailed guides for children who may have little experience with the titular outdoor recreations. Each uses a how-to format with step-by-step instructions; useful tips; and basic information related to sites, gear, food preparation, and activities. Illustrations, photos, and diagrams extend the readable texts on cleanly designed pages. Each book includes a working compass. Ind. Review covers these titles: Kids' Guide to Fishing, Kids' Guide to Paddling, Kids' Guide to Hiking, and Kids' Guide to Camping.
(4)
YA
Escape: Summer Road Trip series.
A series of light hi-lo novels detail teens' summer trips: Kendra and Mitch are swindled in the City of Sin (Vegas); Tree and Jeanne survive mishaps in 1987 Stonehenge (Lights); and Tamika fights her depression on a kayaking trip (Rapids). Despite the books' uneven plots, their pop-culture references, unchaperoned adventures, and highly accessible texts may appeal to teenage reluctant readers. There are three other fall 2017 books in this series. Review covers these Escape: Summer Road Trip titles: Vegas, The Rapids, and Shooting Lights.
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Sean London.
A kayaking trip off the coast of British Columbia goes awry when thirteen-year-old Aaron's group of friends has a run-in with a ship smuggling mistreated, undocumented Chinese immigrants. Young readers with a passion for the outdoors will devour this fast-paced, suspenseful hi-lo adventure, full of details about camping and kayaking. Discussion questions and a note on migrants and refugees are appended.
24 pp.
| Smart Apple
| March, 2016
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-62588-382-7$27.10
(4)
K-3
Adventure Sports series.
In clear, engaging narratives that emphasize the dangers of adventure sports as well as the thrills, these books introduce training and equipment for each sport and discuss the challenges. The layouts can be unfocused, as text in various fonts and sizes vies with many photos, illustrations, fact sidebars, and quick "Thrill Seeker" bios. Still, adventurous kids will be inspired. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Adventure Sports titles: Canoeing and Kayaking, Caving, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, and Skiing and Snowboarding.
32 pp.
| Smart Apple
| August, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59920-812-1$28.50
(4)
4-6
Adventure Outdoors series.
These books highlight activities and sports for outdoorsy kids. The instructive overviews cover required skills for each activity; recommended equipment, clothing, and gear; safety suggestions; and necessary preparations and guidelines. Sidebars offer statistics and interesting real-life anecdotes. A creative mix of color photos accompany the rather awkward narratives. Quizzes help ensure readers are prepared for the activity. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Adventure Outdoors titles: Wild Biking, Wild Rock, Wild Snow, Wild Trail, Wild Underground, and Wild Water.
113 pp.
| Orca
| April, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4598-0097-7$16.95
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4598-0096-0$9.95
(4)
YA
Orca Currents series.
Though forbidden to do so, fourteen-year-old Maya sneaks out every day in her kayak to the nearby kelp beds to observe a family of sea otters. But Maya soon discovers that the otters--and her family--are in danger from poachers. It's a predictable read, but fast-paced seafaring action and tense plotting will satisfy the hi-lo set.
32 pp.
| Sea to Sea
| March, 2011
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-59771-285-9$28.50
(3)
4-6
Know Your Sport series.
Each how-to volume provides an introduction to the equipment, techniques, and safety measures for the title water sport. Serviceable instructive photographs help illustrate such concepts as tacking a sailboat and paddling a kayak, while engaging stock images capture the excitement on the water. The volumes conclude with racing information, profiling top racers, rules, and tactics. Websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Know Your Sport titles: Sailing and Canoeing and Kayaking.
265 pp.
| Tundra
| September, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-1-77049-257-8$17.95
(3)
YA
Rex, an American teen, travels to Colombia to attempt a "first descent" kayaking down the formidable river El Furioso. He meets Myriam, an indigenous teen who speaks English and longs to attend college. Together their lives and plans converge, despite political and drug-cartel threats. An adventurous, descriptive plunge into Colombia's modern-day violence amidst the backdrop of nature's beauty.
(4)
K-3
Active Sports series.
These volumes provide general information about the title sports including facts about their histories and specialized equipment. Kayaking and Running also include sections about races and competitions. The vivid photographs are more compelling than the bland, choppy texts ("Lots of people like to dive by coral reefs in the ocean"). Glos., ind. Review covers these Active Sports titles: Hiking, Kayaking, Running, and Scuba Diving.
(4)
4-6
Ryan's brother, Tanner, convinces him to go on a kayaking and camping trip. After Tanner is injured, Ryan gets caught in a fight for survival that will take every ounce of resourcefulness he can muster--not easy for a boy who spends most of his time playing video games. Once this slow-to-begin novel gets going, readers will keep turning pages.
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Wendell Minor.
In this edge-of-your-seat adventure, Axel and his dog, alone in a kayak, follow his aunt and uncle's raft through the treacherous waters of Salmon River's Middle Fork in Idaho. They survive a majestic but harrowing encounter with a raging forest fire (artfully interpreted by Minor), and the grownups comfort Axel with a promise to return next summer to see the forest undergoing regeneration.
184 pp.
| HarperCollins
| April, 2002
|
TradeISBN 0-688-17473-6$$15.95
|
LibraryISBN 0-06-029810-3$$15.89
(2)
YA
Fourteen-year-old Andy, on a southeast-Alaska kayaking vacation, sets off to find the spot where his father had years earlier fallen to his death. A sudden gale sweeps his kayak onto the inhospitable shores of Admiralty Island. A Newfoundland dog leads him to a mysterious cave inhabited by a "wild man." This well-paced, believable survival adventure story is enhanced by a map and an author's note.
Reviewer: Mary M. Burns
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2002
212 pp.
| HarperCollins/Rayo
| May, 2002
|
TradeISBN 0-380-97745-1$$15.95
|
LibraryISBN 0-06-001228-5$$15.89
(3)
4-6
Two Guatemalan siblings, twelve-year-old Santiago and four-year-old Angelina, witness the burning of their village and the murder of their family during a military raid. The children find their uncle's sailing canoe and undertake a treacherous journey to Florida. Mikaelsen is careful not to sensationalize the children's heroics in this harrowing survival story.
(3)
4-6
Photographs by
Dag Goering.
The author and her photographer husband chronicle their kayaking voyage through the Solomon Islands in a lively travelogue format. The insightful first-person narrative is accompanied by vivid color photos that successfully capture the essence of the islands' culture and natural beauty. This unusual book stands out from typical assignment-oriented geographical fare. Bib., ind.
151 pp.
| Delacorte
| September, 1998
|
TradeISBN 0-385-32303-4$$14.95
(3)
4-6
Cody and her cousin Derek take a covert kayaking trip in the Alaskan wilderness. When an advancing glacier dams a fjord, the two kayakers are trapped. They fight hunger and snowblindness before receiving help from a mysterious couple who live in the remote woods. Although its emotional content is limited, the story moves briskly and will appeal to fans of the survival genre.