Monday, March 4, 2019

Great Ports of the World by Mia Cassany & Victor Medina (Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

I received a free physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Great Ports of the World: From New York to Hong Kong
by Mia Cassany
Illustrated by Victor Medina
Published by Prestel Publishing
On October 2, 2018
Length: 40 pages
Age Group: 4-8

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Synopsis:
From the ports of New York and St. Petersburg to London and Barcelona, this fun and informative book offers a unique way of looking at and learning about the busiest ports of the world. 

Travels to the world's ports and you'll learn much about a country's people, culture, and industry. Ports are thriving hubs of activity, filled with an endless variety of boats, cargo, and workers. This unique book takes young readers on a journey around the globe's ports and features some of the world's most fascinating destinations. In colorful spreads, readers are given insights into each port city: What are they eating in Hong Kong? What lives on the Nile River? What do the boats of Venice look like? From flora to fauna and from tropical climates to polar regions, this book is packed with vibrant, 1950's era inspired illustrations. As entertaining as it is educational, this book gives children a window into a new way of seeing the world. 

My Thoughts:
Great Ports of the World is vividly illustrated and endlessly fascinating. It introduces its' readers to different cities and countries, ports and harbors, and so much more as it takes them on a journey around the world. 

We keep a big old-fashioned map of the world in my house and utilize it regularly by pointing out continents or countries to my daughter whenever we are reading books or watching movies set in specific places; especially if they featured animals. I felt like this book was the perfect continuation of that impromptu education! Now the places on the map are not just where animals live, but real places with different people, cultures, and architecture. We can imagine freighters shipping out from Pier 57 in the United States and heading out over the ocean to so many new and exciting places! 


The illustrations in this book kept us busy for a long time. Each featured port or harbor has a full-page spread that includes wonderfully detailed landscapes, buildings, boats, people, and more, all in the different styles and/or cultures of that country. Surfers ride the waves in Hawaii. Gondola drivers traverse the canals and waterways of Venice. We even get a chance to go back in time to Ancient Egypt!



There are plenty of useful facts and bits of history in this book as well; not only about ports, but also about different types of boats such as cruise ships that can be ten stories high and carry more than just people or goods. 



We've had a lot of fun with this book and can see us referencing it a lot in the future. I found myself both teaching and learning along while reading this out loud to my daughter and explaining the pictures and concepts to her. She enjoyed learning about the strange new places and hopes we can visit them all someday! 


Many thanks to the publishers for providing us a copy of this fantastic book! 

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