The author-illustrator of The Castle Book takes young readers on a guided tour of sailing ships, including the reed boats of the Ancient Egyptians, Roman and Greek galleys, Viking longships, Columbus' galleons, the Spanish Armada, Arabian dhows, Chinese junks, and China clippers.

The book features The Constitution, the U.S. frigate better known as "Old Ironsides." Simple text and striking pictures—many of them cut-away—show what life was like on this famous ship, from her hold to the top of her rigging.

The book concludes with the sailing ships of today: racing yachts, fishing craft, and the stately full-rigger still used to train U.S. Coast Guard cadets.

From the dust jacket