
World Book Day 2022: Five nautical yarns you’ll love
Happy World Book Day! Discover five of our favourite nautical books to give you some inspiration for your next great read.
The Secret World of Weather by Tristan Gooley
Learn how to recognise signs in clouds, wind, landscapes and animals to help you track and predict local changes in the weather – and use them to your advantage to find the perfect picnic spot!
As well as descriptions of the signs to look for and the science behind what you’re seeing, Gooley includes sketches and colour photographs to illustrate his points.
He also includes several stories from history and his own personal experiences, which you can use to practise spotting weather signs.
Once you read this book, you’ll find yourself studying the patterns in the world all around you.
Published by Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN 9781529339550
Farewell Mr Puffin by Paul Heiney
Paul Heiney embarks on a quest to Iceland, retracing the voyages of ancient seafarers, one eye always open for the elusive puffin.
He sets sail from the east coast of England, travels through the puffins’ breeding grounds around Faroe and continues onward to the lands of the Vikings.
His journey sees him survive some of the north Atlantic’s most perilous waters, endure broken ribs and explore previously uncharted coastlines. Yet his beloved puffins are nowhere to be found.
Paul’s joy of the sea, wildlife and sailing knowledge shine through in this delightful trip around northern waters.
Published by Adlard Coles
ISBN 9781472990976
Trim, The Cartographer’s Cat by Matthew Flinders, Philippa Sandall and Gillian Dooley
Few cats get a memorial statue, but Trim has six. He was the adventurous ship’s cat who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia in the early 1800s.
This light-hearted, whimsical book is an ode to Trim. It begins with Flinders’ own tribute to his beloved cat from 1809, then discusses their life together, and ends with a fanciful description of their adventures as imagined by the cat himself.
Detailed maps, historical artwork and quirky illustrations bring this book to life – and the feline fans among us will utterly adore it.
Published by Adlard Coles
ISBN 9781472967220
A Knot a Day by Nic Compton
This charming book is about more than learning to tie different knots – it’s full of innovative ways to turn a length of rope, a tie or even a scarf into something much more interesting and useful.
A Knot a Day also highlights the benefits of mindfulness that knot tying can provide, and peppers nuggets of trivia and knot history throughout.
The knots range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. Within the 365 different projects, a bottle carrier and a tree swing sit alongside plenty of classic knots.
With clear step-by-step imagery and instructions, this book promises hours of enjoyment – all you need is some good quality rope and time to practise.
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 9781472985163
Around the Coast in 80 Days by Peter Naldrett
While you may not have the time or inclination to spend 80 days travelling Britain, this is an essential guide for anyone who loves the coast and wants to start exploring.
Peter Naldrett takes you through 80 of Britain’s most interesting and idyllic seaside spots. Beautifully designed with illustrated maps and stunning photography, this is an ideal coffee-table book that will impress your guests. But it’s not just the visuals that make this guide so appealing – each location is peppered with fun facts and handy notes, sharing the best way to get there, where to eat, and why it’s worth a visit.
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 9781844865598
We hope you enjoy our World Book Day reading ideas! Reviews by Catherine Weston, Kevin Hill, Nikki McMullen and Alex Hennessy.
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Need more book recommendations? Why not become a member of the RNLI – you’ll receive a copy of our quarterly magazine, Lifeboat, which contains six book reviews in every issue, as well as rescue stories, fascinating features, the latest news and exclusive member offers.
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