Books like 'Looking for a Ship'
Readers who enjoyed Looking for a Ship by John McPhee also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
action / adventure outdoors nautical journalism
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The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERDeep in the water,Mr. Fish swims aboutWith his fish face stuckIn a permanent pout.Can his pals cheer him up?Will his pout ever end?Is there something he can learnFrom an unexpected friend?Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading "dreary wearies" isn't really his destiny... -
![The Girl and the Tiger by Paul Rosolie]()
The Girl and the Tiger by Paul Rosolie
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIsha is a girl who loves animals, but struggles in the confines of school. When she is sent away to live with her grandparents on the Indian countryside, she discovers a sacred grove where a young Bengal tiger has taken refuge. Isha knows that the ever-shrinking forests of India mean there are few places left for a tiger to hide... -
![Deep Gold by Douglas Pratt]()
Deep Gold by Douglas Pratt
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA sunken u-boat.A lost cache of Hitler's gold.Can Chase beat a band of Nazis to this hidden treasure?Chase's peaceful beach day is disrupted when he rescues the beautiful Rikki Talen from an attempted kidnapping.He finds Rikki being pursued by a group of neo-Nazis bent on finding a missing German submarine filled with a shipment of gold... -
![Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen]()
Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWith enough lunch for three, Mr. Magee and his dog Dee head out to the sea. But what begins as a fun day in the sun turns a bit bumpy when onel playful whale decides to say hello. Soon the crew that once was floating finds themselves flying! How will they get down? Who will come to their rescue? And when will they ever get to eat lunch? Down to the Sea with Mr... -
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![Rising Warrior by Wayne Stinnett]()
Rising Warrior by Wayne Stinnett
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAfter returning home to the Florida Keys, Jesse moves on to Fort Myers, his hometown on the Southwest Florida coast. There is much work to be done and Jesse is no stranger to hard work. On a kayaking adventure with friends, Jesse's daughter finds and rescues a baby manatee suffering from respiratory problems... -
![Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds]()
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe sky’s no limit as the author-illustrator of The Dot and Ish winds up his Creatrilogy with a whimsical tale about seeing the world a new way.Marisol loves to paint... -
![Boca Grande Breeze by Ed Robinson]()
Boca Grande Breeze by Ed Robinson
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBreeze did not want to get involved. He had problems of his own, but when he saw the man on the sailboat punch his partner, he was forced to act. He didn’t need a woman around while he plotted his revenge against the man responsible for Brody’s death. He was on a mission, and this stranger could only slow him down... -
![Blue Waters by Eric Chance Stone]()
Blue Waters by Eric Chance Stone
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA casual outing with a metal detector ends in a surprising find: not treasure...but the shocking remains of a gruesome murder.Native Texan Rick Waters is a jack-of-all trades: treasure hunter, diver, part-time detective... -
![The Whales' Song by Dyan Sheldon]()
The Whales' Song by Dyan Sheldon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis poetic, rhythmic text tells how a small girl believes the whales will come - as they did in past times - and fill the oceans, as big as the hills . . . as peaceful as the moon. Day after day, Lilly waits by the shore. If only she knew the secret of the whales' song... -
![The Jack Vance Treasury by Jack Vance, Jonathan Strahan]()
The Jack Vance Treasury by Jack Vance, Jonathan Strahan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA massive (over 230,000 words) gathering of fiction by the master of science-fantasy.Nebula and World Fantasy Grand Master Jack Vance is one of the most admired and cherished writers of science fiction and fantasy in the world, and is one of the truly important and influential storytellers of the 20th century... -
![Coastal Breeze by Ed Robinson]()
Coastal Breeze by Ed Robinson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBreeze is made an offer he can’t refuse. A three million dollar yacht is his for the taking, but there are strings attached. He’s sent to Panama to repossess the vessel from its current captain, who becomes an unlikely ally during a mission to Colombia... -
![The Bear Report by Thyra Heder]()
The Bear Report by Thyra Heder
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA girl and a polar bear take a stunning journey through the Arctic in this award-winning picture book from the author-illustrator of Alfie and How Do You Dance?What’s there to say about polar bears? They’re big. They’re mean. They eat things. Bor-ing. At least that’s how Sophie feels when she sits down to do her homework... -
![The Sign of the Seahorse by Graeme Base]()
The Sign of the Seahorse by Graeme Base
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBeginning at the Seahorse Cafe, social hub of the Old Reef, this novel takes the reader on a journey, from the doomed coral gardens of Reeftown, to a wreck and an underwater junkyard, across the expanse of the Withered Plain...Categorized as:
nautical outdoors action-adventure animals book children children-books contemporary -
![The Continental Risque by James L. Nelson]()
The Continental Risque by James L. Nelson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom Simon & Schuster, The Continental Risque is James L. Nelson's powerful saga of the American Revolution and a stirring dramatic maritime adventure.Nelson's exciting seafaring trilogy concludes. As cries for independence ring through the chambers of the Second Continental Congress, Captain Isaac Biddlecomb and his crew are called upon to engage The Royal Navy... -
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![Big Al by Andrew Clements, Yuu Yoshii]()
Big Al by Andrew Clements, Yuu Yoshii
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPoor Big Al! He just wants to make friends. And in the whole wide blue sea you can't find a nicer fish. But because Big Al is large and scary-looking, the little fish are afraid to get to know him. What can he do? He tries everything he can think of -- from disguising himself with seaweed to burrowing under the ocean floor so he'll look smaller... -
![A River by Marc Martin]()
A River by Marc Martin
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThere is a river outside my window.Where will it take me? So begins an imaginary journey from the city to the sea. From factories to farmlands, freeways to forest, each new landscape is explored through stunning illustrations and poetic text from this award-winning picture-book creator... -
![Sunset Coast Cottage by Hayley Summers]()
Sunset Coast Cottage by Hayley Summers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe has a chance at a new life. But can she let go of her past?Left alone and directionless in the aftermath of her abusive husband’s death, widow Marisa Owens is given an opportunity to start fresh. Embarking to a beautiful seaside town on the Florida coast, Marisa must contend with a lifetime of pain and broken dreams as she attempts to rebuild herself and create a new future... -
![D.W. All Wet by Marc Brown, Marty Appel]()
D.W. All Wet by Marc Brown, Marty Appel
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsD.W. bosses her brother Arthur into carrying her on his shoulders at the beach because she maintains that she hates the water, until she gets a big wet surprise... -
![The Octopus Escapes by Maile Meloy]()
The Octopus Escapes by Maile Meloy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom a New York Times bestselling author comes this poignant, lyrical tale about nature's great escape artist—perfect for fans of the Oscar-winning documentary film My Octopus Teacher .The octopus is happy in his undersea cave until one day, a diver captures him and takes him to live in an aquarium. The humans give him food and tests that look like toys... -
![Sunset Coast Cottage by Hayley Summers]()
Sunset Coast Cottage by Hayley Summers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe has a chance at a new life. But can she let go of her past?Left alone and directionless in the aftermath of her abusive husband’s death, widow Marisa Owens is given an opportunity to start fresh. Embarking to a beautiful seaside town on the Florida coast, Marisa must contend with a lifetime of pain and broken dreams as she attempts to rebuild herself and create a new future... -
![The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales by S.J. King]()
The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales by S.J. King
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDive into the world of The Secret Explorers and learn about ocean life in this action-packed first installment in a brand-new fiction series.Meet The Secret Explorers! This group of brilliant kids comes together from all four corners of the globe to fix problems, solve mysteries, and gather knowledge all over the planet - and beyond...Categorized as:
outdoors nautical children-books action-adventure animals middle-grade children fiction -
![Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James]()
Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 14 ratings"Dear Mr. Blueberry, I love whales very much and I think I saw one in my pond today. Please send me some information on whales." It's vacation time, so Emily has to write to her teacher to help when she discovers a blue whale living in her pond. Mr. Blueberry answers that she must be mistaken, because whales live in the ocean, not in ponds. Throughout the summer, Emily and Mr... -
![If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano]()
If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIf you want to see a whale, you will need to know what not to look at.Pink roses, pelicans, possible pirates . . .If you want to see a whale, you have to keep your eyes on the sea, and wait . . .and wait . . . and wait . . .In this quiet and beautiful picture book by Julie Fogliano and Erin E...Categorized as:
nautical outdoors 21st-century action-adventure animals book children children-books -
![Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert]()
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsRide the wind and drift east with Leaf Man in this autumnal classic by Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert, perfect for young readers returning to school in the fall. Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move... -
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![L'école de vol by Lita Judge]()
L'école de vol by Lita Judge
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA persevering penguin is determined to fly in this adorably inspiring picture book from the creator of Red Hat and Red Sled.Although little Penguin has the soul of an eagle, his body wasn’t built to soar...Categorized as:
nautical outdoors action-adventure animals book children children-books contemporary -
![Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman, Scott Magoon]()
Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman, Scott Magoon
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEvery beachgoer knows that there's nothing more terrifying than a... SHARRRK! But this shark is just misunderstood, or is he? In a wholly original, sidesplittingly funny story, New York Times bestselling author Ame Dyckman and illustrator Scott Magoon take this perennial theme and turn it on its (hammer)head with a brand-new cheeky character... -
![Breathe by Scott Magoon]()
Breathe by Scott Magoon
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA young whale enjoys its first day of independence... -
![My Life with the Wave by Catherine Cowan, Octavio Paz]()
My Life with the Wave by Catherine Cowan, Octavio Paz
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy first trip to the seashore, one wave tore away from the sea.She caught my hand, and we raced away together across the sand.Based on a story by Nobel Prize laureate Octavio Paz, this delightful tale of a boy and his pet wave is charmingly retold with beautiful new illustrations... -
![Ned the Knitting Pirate by Diana Murray]()
Ned the Knitting Pirate by Diana Murray
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe crew of the pirate ship the Rusty Heap are a fearsome bunch! They're tougher than gristle and barnacle grit. They heave and they ho and they swab and they . . . knit?Well, one of them does, at least! Unfortunately for Ned, his knitting doesn't go over well with the captain and crew. They urge him to hide his hobby and strive to be scurvier, like pirates should be... -
![My Last Continent by Midge Raymond]()
My Last Continent by Midge Raymond
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAn unforgettable debut with an irresistible love story, "My Last Continent" is a big-hearted, propulsive novel set against the dramatic Antarctic landscape original and entirely authentic love story (Graeme Simsion, author of "The Rosie Project")... -
![The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig]()
The Sea Runners by Ivan Doig
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBased on an actual incident in 1853, award-winning author Ivan Doig's The Sea Runners is a spare and awe-inspiring tale of the human quest for freedom."Goes beyond being 'about' survival and becomes, mile by terrible mile, the experience itself... -
![Octopus Alone by Divya Srinivasan]()
Octopus Alone by Divya Srinivasan
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOctopus loves living on the busy reef under the sea. From her cozy cave, she can see clown fish, and sea turtles, and little butterflies swimming by. She especially loves watching the seahorses having fun, wiggling and twirling. Sometimes she will play with them, but occasionally Octopus just wants to be alone, somewhere quiet, and not so busy...Categorized as:
outdoors nautical children-books animals fiction children action-adventure friendship -
![Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell]()
Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA moving, poetic story about a whale in captivity who longs for the ocean . . . because whales don't belong in fishbowls, do they? Wednesday is a whale who lives in a fishbowl smack dab in the middle of a city--it's the only home she's ever known. Cars whizz around her and people hurry past; even the sun and moon circle above... -
![The Ocean Above Me by Kevin Sites]()
The Ocean Above Me by Kevin Sites
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTrapped undersea in a capsized shrimping trawler, a damaged former war correspondent is forced to confront a deadly secret from his past as he struggles to survive in this gripping novel of trauma, loss, love, and redemption from award-winning journalist and author of The Things They Cannot Say Kevin Sites... -
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![McSweeney's #25 by Dave Eggers, McSweeney's Publishing]()
McSweeney's #25 by Dave Eggers, McSweeney's Publishing
Rated: 3.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMcSweeney's began as a literary journal which published only works rejected from other magazines, but after the first issue, the journal began to publish pieces written with McSweeney's in mind, attracting works from some of the finest writers in the country and many new talents...Categorized as:
journalism action-adventure anthologies children-books fiction literary-fiction urban-fantasy -
![Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley, Lauren Castillo]()
Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley, Lauren Castillo
Rated: 3.79 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFeaturing lyrical text and beautiful illustrations, this bedtime tale from Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley and Caldecott Honor recipient Lauren Castillo evokes the splashy fun of the beach and the quietude of a moonlit night, with twenty yawns sprinkled in for children to discover and count.As her mom reads a bedtime story, Lucy drifts off... -
![Following Papa's Song by Gianna Marino]()
Following Papa's Song by Gianna Marino
Rated: 3.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“Papa?”asked Little Blue. “Are we going very far?” “Yes, Little Blue. We will travel farther than we have ever gone before.” As two whales swim together through the big ocean, Little Blue has many questions for Papa, especially ones about the long migration... -
![Fish by Liam Francis Walsh]()
Fish by Liam Francis Walsh
Rated: 3.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA boy and his dog embark on a fishing journey.Their first catch of the day: a big fat letter F.Their second? A slippery I. After an epic journey beneath the lake's surface, they find what they came for-- a FISH, along with some unanticipated menace from a few other letters... -
![Salechii: A Shark Park by Carolyn McCray]()
Salechii: A Shark Park by Carolyn McCray
Rated: 3.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings**Warning, if you ever hope to swim in the ocean again, this book is NOT for you!From the #1 bestselling author in Action/Adventure, Men's Adventure, Techno-thrillers, War, And Thrillers, Carolyn McCray comes the next greatest thing since Jaws!A shark-fest for all of you Jaws, Jurassic Park, Shark Week and Sharknado lovers!Praise for Salechii..."Salechii will make your heart race with fear... -
![Here Comes Ocean by Meg Fleming, Paola Zakimi]()
Here Comes Ocean by Meg Fleming, Paola Zakimi
Rated: 3.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDiscover the wonder of a day at the beach in this exuberant, rhyming picture book from the author of I Heart You and Sometimes Rain... -
![Typhoon by Joseph Conrad, Dmitrii Rybalko]()
Typhoon by Joseph Conrad, Dmitrii Rybalko
Rated: 3.63 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"Typhoon" is a novel that belongs to Joseph Conrad's early works. Like most of his books it talks about the sea, the water element and the man's struggle with it.McVeer, the protagonist, is a captain of a steamer 'Nyan-Shan'. A truly phlegmatic and a prosaic person, he lacks virtually any abstract thinking and imagination. But this is true only at a first glance...
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