Let History Unfold with "Titanic"

If it's time to jazz up your child's bookshelf, why not share with them (in 3-D) the story of the most famous ship of all time?

Titanic (Candlewick Press), by Martin Jenkins and Brian Sanders, is a pop-up book of magnificent proportions. The fold-out paper replica of the Titanic stretches nearly 21/2 feet. There are pop-up scenes of the ship's interior and replicas of a first-class ticket, menu cards, and a newspaper reporting the fateful events of April 14, 1912.

Even if your child isn't a history buff, she'll be fascinated by the photos, maps and text illuminating the story of the rise and fall of the “unsinkable” ship. Your child's imagination will devour the haunting stories of those who went down, and the captivating biographies of survivors.

A well-written book details the history of the ship—from its blueprints, to the 1985 discovery of its final resting place nearly 2 ½ miles deep. The book discusses all the variables that went into the concept and design of the ship, including the rivalry between steamship companies to see who could build the fastest, most luxurious ship ever. Your child will be picking up extra science credit, too, when he finds out how the three huge steam engines pulled the 45,000-ton ship.

What makes the book so compelling is the question it alludes to throughout. The authors tell of the crow's nest binoculars that never made it on-board, the iceberg warning messages that went ignored and the famous shortage of lifeboats. Could this tragedy have been avoided? Let your child be the judge.

While the story of the worst ever single shipwreck at sea isn't for the faint of heart, your child will see how history unfolds and learn that some questions remain forever unanswered.

Titanic by Martin Jenkins and Brian Sanders (Candlewick Press, 2007)

Ages: 8 and up

Price: $29.99

Star rating: * * * *