What do you think?
Rate this book
Boats
Byron Barton introduces young readers to all different kinds of boats in this bold and colorful board book. With simple text and vibrant illustrations, readers will learn about transportation by boat.
Fishing boats and ferryboats.
Sailboats and tugs.
Boats on the water.
Come aboard.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
Fishing boats and ferryboats.
Sailboats and tugs.
Boats on the water.
Come aboard.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
Board book
First published January 1, 1986
3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Byron Barton
77 books51 followersByron Barton is the author and illustrator of many picture books for young children. He has been honored by ALA, SLJ, and Reading Rainbow. He worked as an animator for CBS before he started creating children's books. He is currently making his illustrations completely on the computer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 21, 2019
Loved this book especially since it had a fire boat 🚒!
July 11, 2021
I missed reading my children's book yesterday as I was engaged in climbing a mountain and left my house at 5:30 in the morning and didn't return until 7:00 at night. Thus, I shall read two today.
I am also going to be adding the type of book to the category of story. It seems that children's books fall into three broad categories: narrative, dictionary, and procedural. The categories seem pretty self-explanatory: those that have a story, those that are just lists of things, and those that illustrate how to do something. I think it would be helpful to clearly delineate which type a book is, mostly because I think dictionaries are incredibly boring, and why would a kid like them without some sort of gimmick? Not to mention, with or without a gimmick, is it likely that the book is something they would return to, reading it again and again? I don't think so. How many times do you, as an adult, reread a dictionary? Why would a child be any different? Just because of the pictures? I don't think children are so mercenary as to be fooled.
Anyway. This book is a dictionary. The only reason that it didn't get a one star is because he at least played with perspective in the art with each additional boat being added to the foreground and the prior boat disappearing into the background. Good way to educate upcoming artists in the use of perspective, if that is your goal. If not...it's a dictionary. It's got boats in it.
Story: Dictionary-Meh
Art: Meh
Price: 6.95
I am also going to be adding the type of book to the category of story. It seems that children's books fall into three broad categories: narrative, dictionary, and procedural. The categories seem pretty self-explanatory: those that have a story, those that are just lists of things, and those that illustrate how to do something. I think it would be helpful to clearly delineate which type a book is, mostly because I think dictionaries are incredibly boring, and why would a kid like them without some sort of gimmick? Not to mention, with or without a gimmick, is it likely that the book is something they would return to, reading it again and again? I don't think so. How many times do you, as an adult, reread a dictionary? Why would a child be any different? Just because of the pictures? I don't think children are so mercenary as to be fooled.
Anyway. This book is a dictionary. The only reason that it didn't get a one star is because he at least played with perspective in the art with each additional boat being added to the foreground and the prior boat disappearing into the background. Good way to educate upcoming artists in the use of perspective, if that is your goal. If not...it's a dictionary. It's got boats in it.
Story: Dictionary-Meh
Art: Meh
Price: 6.95
January 11, 2017
Boardbook for toddlers. Simple pictures and phrases.
September 11, 2017
The writing and story line are very boring and poorly thought through. Even for a simple children's book... one expects a little more!
September 15, 2017
This one is fine, but my kid had zero interest in it. While "My Bus" and "My Car" have a bit of a narrative, this one is just boats. Not as fun.
November 9, 2017
Nice and simple book with all types of boats to share with you youngest reader.
This book is available as an app with interactive fun for young ones.
This book is available as an app with interactive fun for young ones.
September 28, 2018
Bright colors, great illustrations. I love the progression of each boat -great for storytime (book is physically smaller - may be hard for bigger groups)
April 3, 2021
Lou loves it. It’s simple and fast enough to keep her entertained.
July 4, 2021
Simple, blocky colorful art about--get this--boats.
There's not much to it. But if you're expecting a lot, maybe you're the problem, Boats isn't the problem.
There's not much to it. But if you're expecting a lot, maybe you're the problem, Boats isn't the problem.
March 21, 2025
Liked the boats, not as interested as other transportation books with trucks.
March 7, 2015
This little "board book" introduces many kinds of boats. When I share this with children, either one-on-one or in a group, I like to have a conversation with them rather than simply reading aloud the text. For instance, the first double-page spread shows sky and waves and the text is--"on the water". I hold up the book and ask, "Where do boats like to be?" or "What do you see?" When sharing with babies I'd say, "I see sky" and "I see water." Or I could play "I spy with my little eye" with them.
The technical term for this type of engagement is DIALOGIC READING and it actually helps children become ready to read. Besides, it's fun. Here's a link to a video clip about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Xlb...
Boats featured include: a rowboat, a sailboat, a motorboat, a fireboat, a ferryboat, a fishing boat, a cruise ship, and a tugboat. It also features dock workers and passengers. The last page says "Bon voyage" which I like to have the children repeat while telling them it is the way to say "goodbye" or "have a good trip" in french.
The technical term for this type of engagement is DIALOGIC READING and it actually helps children become ready to read. Besides, it's fun. Here's a link to a video clip about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Xlb...
Boats featured include: a rowboat, a sailboat, a motorboat, a fireboat, a ferryboat, a fishing boat, a cruise ship, and a tugboat. It also features dock workers and passengers. The last page says "Bon voyage" which I like to have the children repeat while telling them it is the way to say "goodbye" or "have a good trip" in french.
Read
January 17, 2014After a pretty significant life change, our 3 year old has been revisiting some of his old favorites this week (books for comfort? I'm so proud). This made me realize what a lapse I'd made; I can't believe I've never reviewed a Byron Barton! Boats happens to be the one our son picked up this week, but any of the other ones would be a great choice as well. They all feature bright, clear and simple drawings in primary colors, and a very simple storyline that usually involves identifying different types within a theme. In Boats, for example, you see everything from a sailboat to a cruise line. Barton books always got a big thumbs up from our kid.
August 29, 2014
My two-year-old requested "my boat book" several times on a recent road trip. I'd checked out several of these small Barton books for car entertainment, and they held my child's attention well. I like that they are easy for him to hold and look at by himself, and he clearly finds the colors and illustrations appealing.
April 19, 2016
I wasn't a huge fan of Barton's Trucks, but MicroMort loved it, so this was a must check-out from the library. I enjoyed this one more-I think, perhaps, my adult brain just enjoyed a break from all those trucks! In any case, similar to Trucks, we learn about all kinds of boats doing all kinds of jobs here.
April 10, 2017
This book opens up children to all the different kinds of boats! Different boats from fishing boats, sailboats, tugs, rowboat, etc. All the colors and simple drawings can keep any child engaged.
I think this book is very fun and the illustrations are very well drawn. This is very cute and makes me think not too long ago I was actually just learning about boats. The colors are very eye-catching for younger children. The words are easy and small enough to understand for younger children who are newly learning and just starting to understand words.
I think this book is very fun and the illustrations are very well drawn. This is very cute and makes me think not too long ago I was actually just learning about boats. The colors are very eye-catching for younger children. The words are easy and small enough to understand for younger children who are newly learning and just starting to understand words.
March 25, 2013
Byron Barton is a genius, and this is another great one! Boats!! On the water!! We borrowed a really large board book version of this from the library, and MAN IS IT GORGEOUS!!!
I still don't love boats as much as TRUCKS! or PLANES! but, it's fantastic.
I still don't love boats as much as TRUCKS! or PLANES! but, it's fantastic.
December 22, 2016
My son is 2. He likes seeing the boats repeat on the next page, and the different types. We read this, Planes, and My Bus together.
The book is dull, but has cute illustrations, which do a good job showing the parts of the boats, even though the text doesn't say much, it allows for elaboration.
The book is dull, but has cute illustrations, which do a good job showing the parts of the boats, even though the text doesn't say much, it allows for elaboration.
September 28, 2007
This extra large board book is a sure win with any crowds. The few words in white stand off the blue-of-the-ocean background.
September 13, 2008
We are reading this one over and over right now in our house. My toddler boy is fascinated by it, and is picking up great new vocabulary words like harbor, dock and tugboat.
March 15, 2023
I think I've come to love Byron Barton's books. Even if they are predictable. But hot damn, The Boy gets excited about every one of these board books.
May 26, 2011
LOVE this author! His pictures are very colorful and well done. His story is simple, with not too many words on the page. My son LOVES his books too!
April 29, 2011
Great book! Fascinating for both my two-year-old and my one-year-old. Simple, fun, colorful, surprisingly informative.
June 1, 2011
Bold illustrations and simple text introduce different kinds of boats and what they do. Natalie wasn't all that interested, but she hasn't shown an interest in boats much in general.
September 8, 2016
This book tells of all the different boats and how they are used daily.A good book to show children how the boats are used on the water everyday.
November 21, 2012
Good simple one-worded board book about boats. I think if I had a boy he may enjoy it more than my girls. It shows the reader all kinds of boats.
December 19, 2016
Read at Baby Lap Time on 1/24/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
April 10, 2013
This book has lots of cute characters, fun colors and was simple to understand. The kids were very interested with each page turned. Would read again.
May 30, 2013
My husband laughed because the illustrations are very much not to scale.
April 14, 2014
4* art
4* story
Barton's books are great - straight-forward and simple, they provide so many opportunities for conversation. I add to the story as we go.
4* story
Barton's books are great - straight-forward and simple, they provide so many opportunities for conversation. I add to the story as we go.
January 12, 2015
Fun illustrations and simple story. Probably a little young for my kids (3 & 5), and more for 2 year olds.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews