Shipwreck

Deirdre Laide is a teacher of young children, with a particular interest in social-emotional learning, nature, biodiversity, sustainability, and animal conservation. She adores writing fiction and lyrical non-fiction that create space for deeper discussions on important topics. This is her debut picture book. She lives in Ireland.Carlos Vélez Aguilera was born and lives in Mexico City. He has been a professional illustrator for more than twelve years. He is a graduate of the National School of Plastic Arts of the National University Autonomous of Mexico. He has illustrated books for various publishers in Mexico and the United States and won a number of awards.

"Free verse pays tribute to a variety of famous shipwrecks in this straightforward work for budding marine archeologists. An introductory poem sets the tone, suggesting many circumstances in which a ship may sink: “a swirling storm,/ a rigid rock.” Proceeding nonchronologically, poems highlight a global range of ill-fated vessels, beginning with 1914’s Antarctic-bound Endurance and concluding with the USS Oriskany, sunk in 2006 to form the world’s largest artificial reef. Question-driven text boxes illuminate the disasters’ context. “Will you find hidden histories?” asks one: “There are over 3 million undiscovered shipwrecks in the world.” Laide’s lines frequently use alliteration to evoke maritime drama, describing “fearsome / skull and crossbones/ flapped over ferocious seas.” Saturated coloring and carefully inked detailing give Vélez Aguilera’s realistic full-bleed illustrations an absorbing quality, whether they’re depicting smudgy underwater mysteries or ships in a state of SOS. Back matter includes an author’s note. Ages 7–10. (Aug.)"