Ready, Set, Sail!
“A roly-poly turtle and a take-charge tiger make for enthusiastic boaters in this cheery rhyming exploration of sailing.”
Illustration by Luke Flowers from Ready, Set, Sail!
A 2019 Illinois Reads Book
Ready, Set, Sail!
Grab your life vest, hold on to your compass, and get ready for a day full of sailing fun! Follow these salty sailors as they raise their anchor, cast off, and explore the sea in their little sloop. And after a long day of sailing, they gather and tell tales of all the things they’ve seen!
Illustrations by Luke Flowers
kirkus review
A tiger and turtle pal hit the high seas in an adventure full of vim and vigor.
A captain (tiger) and first mate (turtle) set off for a day of sailing. “Aim the dinghy to your boat. / Row together. Stay afloat. // Shout your orders loud and fast. / ‘Hoist the mainsail up the mast!’ ” A jaunty beat stays strong throughout, peppered with nautical lingo. The skipper is the more confident of the two; the poor turtle pitches backward as the boat rocks and must duck its head into its shell as the boom perilously swings around. The two friends find an island and drop anchor to explore. Snorkeling reveals a teeming underwater ecosystem full of expressive creatures (the smiling hammerhead shark peering at the glum blobfish is especially delightful). On the homeward journey a crowded waterway gives rise to a teachable moment: “Sails are calling. Lines are free. / Find the wind. Know the sea. // Mind the traffic. Go or stay? / Sailboats get the right-of-way.” The lively rhythm makes this book inviting, while the sailing knowledge slips in some education. Bright, saturated illustrations—frothy blue waters and hazy pink sunsets—round out the warmth.
Landlubbers no more. (Picture book. 2-6)
“A good choice for ocean or nautical-themed storytimes.”
Publishers Weekly Children’s Book Review
A roly-poly turtle and a take-charge tiger make for enthusiastic boaters in this cheery rhyming exploration of sailing. With their life jackets zipped and compass in hand, the two discover an island, swim among welcoming sea creatures (even the toothy shark looks friendly), and spot a purple whale. Turtle’s physical antics will make readers smile: the rookie of the duo, he slips when the boat tips and later ducks into his shell when the boom swings around. As the sky turns pink, they call it a day, but not before heading to town to recount their adventures to a group of eager listeners. Reprising the reader-directed verse of her construction-themed Ready, Set, Build!, Fleming offers budding sailors a beginners’ course in seamanship, filling the book with boating lingo and lessons: “Mainsheet flutters. Catch that gale./ Want it faster? Trim the sail!” Using layers of color and crayonlike detailing, Flowers mirrors Fleming’s easygoing rhymes with bright, lively scenes that reflect both the hard work that goes into sailing and the fun to be had. Ages 4–8.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1—This tale of a tiger captain and his turtle first mate going to sea uses plenty of boat and sailing terminology. The simple, rhyming lines scan well and run across the top of each page, leaving plenty of room for the bright, full-bleed illustrations. The artwork matches and helps explain the text, making words like a bowline, dinghy, or boom easy to understand in context. Characters are friendly and cheerful with large eyes and expressive faces.
VERDICT A good choice for ocean or nautical-themed storytimes.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA
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