I Ship, by Kelly Rice Schmitt, illus. by Jam Dong

 Publication October 3, 2023

I wasn't expecting to be wowed by a children's book on container shipping, to be honest. The fact I came away impressed and marveling at how well it was put together speaks highly. Not only is it jam packed with info on life aboard a container ship and their importance to the global economy but it had an interesting story. 

The illustrations, while simple on the surface, also impressed me. Lots of use of colors and lines. You get to watch a container ship being loaded, dealing with delays and rough seas and storms, but also the environment around them at delivery ports. Given how long we heard about how one lone ship stuck in a canal delayed goods for a long time, it brought a smile to my face to see not just a mention of a stuck ship but a map very clearly showing how much difference such an event can create. There's also a cutaway view of the loaded ship, showcasing some of the items you might find loaded on any given voyage. They ranged from cars and bikes to medical supplies and common items like socks and light bulbs. I should note that as the book begins, the author offers a picture of some items you might see shipped or, for that matter, simply along the way. See if you can find them all, including the life boat, whales, and buoys. Then, at the end, you can check your success with another such illustration.

The text is rhythmic and matches the illustrations nicely. The ones of the ship caught in the storm are expressive and the use of a "tilted", so to speak, frame for the illustration is a nice touch. At the end there are info boxes with more on the industry. They're each in different colored boxes, I noted, which helps not give the sense of info overload that a mere page of typed words otherwise might. This section included info on not just the benefits and challenges of container shipping but why countries trade to begin with. A glossary follows in the same format, a crewman leaning against one of the boxes an added touch. 

Let's see, what else besides cool illustrations and an interesting story? How about a list of potential jobs in the industry? There is also a list of videos that are recommended and links to where to download an activity guide. Finally, more on how ships float. That's obviously important. Grin. 

Bottom line, I came away with a new respect for those in this industry. It's obviously hard work but important to the world. Thank you #NetGalley and #LernerPublishingGroup - #MillbrookPress for taking me along on this journey. I'll never quite look at our closest port activity quite the same again.