Sail Away

Valentina Cesaratto is a high-school teacher specializing in dramatic
arts and film studies.

Anyone who would like to teach children about sailing and “sailor
talk” is in for a treat with this very colorfully illustrated book.
Each of the pages has a sailor-talk phrase printed on it, and the pirate
crew—a bevy of animal toys—carry out the duty of the given phrase.
The sailor talk, when read slowly and one page at a time, teaches
nautical terms (e.g., hoist the halyard, trim the sheet, batten down the
hatch). But the fun of this book begins once the terms are learned. When
the words are read quickly, a rhythm not unlike the waves that occur on
a lake or in a bathtub is realized.

Sail Away offers an entertaining and interesting way to teach nautical
terms and have fun with language. A glossary is included. Recommended.