Exploring the Titanic: How the Greatest Ship Ever Lost was Found

Time Quest

by Robert D. Ballard, Patrick Crean (Editor), Ken Marschall (Illustrator)

For the first time, the complete story of the sinking and discovery of the "Titanic" is available to young readers, written by the author of the bestseller "The Discovery of the Titanic". "Captures the drama of both the night of the sinking as well as . . . the discovery of the great ship. . . . Stunning".--"School Library Journal", starred review. Full-color illustrations.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Science, Childrens, Picture Books, Historical, Nautical

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Robert Duane Ballard (born June 30, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas) is a former commander in the United States Navy and an oceanographer who is most noted for his work in underwater archaeology. He is most famous for the discoveries of the wrecks of the RMS Titanic in 1985, the battleship Bismarck in 1989, and the wreck of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in 1998. Most recently he discovered the wreck of John F. Kennedy's PT-109 in 2003 and visited the Solomon Islander natives who saved its crew. Ballard is also great-grandson of American Old West lawman Bat Masterson.

from wikipedia.org

see also
http://literati.net/Ballard/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/fie...
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pa...

Reviews

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Dr. Robert Ballard explains how he located the Titanic's shipwreck 73 years after it sank. The story of the Titanic is told: main facts about the ship, the voyage, the sinking, etc. Ballard then goes on to tell about his expeditions, and the condition of the ship and debris as it was found. The underwater photos that Ballard obtained are equally informative.

"Exploring the Titanic" is actually just a reduced version of Ballard's bestseller, "The Discovery of the Titanic". I would recommend "Exploring the Titanic" if you just want to learn basic facts, or for young readers. On the other hand, "The Discovery of the Titanic" contains all the same information and much, much more (especially for advanced Titanic enthusiasts).

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty outdated at this point, but it's a cool story and the author tells it with just the right amount of "gee-whiz" enthusiasm.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informational books are meant to be informative and Exploring the Titanic succeeds with its accurate facts and illustrations. Titanic has always been a fascinating story because it is so incredibly tragic. Robert D. Ballard takes readers on a complete journey of what Titanic was like before its sinking and what its remains look like after. The images captured by Argo (basically a steel, robotic camera) of Titanic sitting at the bottom of the ocean are haunting. More than 1,500 people went down with the ship and the site of the wreckage had been unseen for 73 years until those aboard the Knorr laid eyes on her.

Some of the more informative and interesting pictures are located on pages 12-15, which provides a diagram of how Titanic was set up and on page 59 there is a diagram of how the Titanic sank. Readers are able to see what the living quarters, dining rooms, swimming pool, grand staircase in the foyer, and so much more all looked like. There is also a comparative set of pictures on pages 44-45 which show the bridge of Titanic in 1912 and 1986.

Exploring the Titanic is a good book for children who are interested in history and science. At 64 pages in length Exploring the Titanic is not overwhelming and offers plenty of fun facts and images for readers to marvel at. This is not an easy-reader book so people of all ages can find it enjoyable, however there is a glossary located in the back of the book for those who need it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I ever read about the Titanic... I am looking forward to revisiting it as a "grown-up."

Still excellent!

[Caleb Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the titanic. because it is an unsinkable ship

[Lyndsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of Titanic literature. Fiction, non-fiction, first hand accounts, Robert Ballard’s memoir. This would probably be the book I’d recommend for anyone tangentially interested in the Titanic. It’s perfect for younger readers too! I read it in one sitting. It gives a concise overview of what happened to the Titanic, how Ballard found it, and what we learned from his explorations. It was unique to have pictures accompany the narrative, and several included side by sides of the then-and-now. Even after researching the Titanic for over 20 years of my life at this point, I still learned something new! 5/5!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband has been reading this (a book from his own childhood) aloud in pieces to our 4-year-old, and I picked it up out of curiosity last night and ended up sitting down and reading it cover-to-cover in one go. Originally published in the late 1980s, it's not the most up-to-date book on the Titanic, but it's incredibly fascinating, and it went a long way to repairing the damage that the infamous Titanic movie did to my own interest in the ill-fated ship.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fittingly, the man who discovered Titanic, Robert D. Ballard, has written a children/teen book about the Titanic tragedy. This isn't exactly a children's picture book. It is written more for middle school readers. However, that's one of the things I loved about this version of the Titanic story; both adults and older kids can enjoy it.

Even though I have read several Titanic books and watched several documentaries, I did find myself learning some new information. Ballard first discusses how an eerie book written in 1898, The Wreck of the Titan, predicted the Titanic disaster. This is often overlooked as a myth by some. Then he centers on just a few passengers, Ruth Becker and Jack Thayer, and crew members, Captain Smith and the wireless operators (Jack Phillips and Harold Bride), to focus his storytelling. I found this effective because it made the story more personal when you got to know these few individuals and how they fared.

Ken Marschall also serves as the illustrator with his beautiful drawings. Marschall is an understated expert on the Titanic as he has illustrated not only the masterpiece, Titanic: An Illustrated History, but also countless others (Finding the Titanic and Inside the Titanic: A Giant Cutaway Book). His illustrations are simply breathtaking; he cuts off the Titanic's steel hull to show the interior as frame by frame she sinks. This helps younger readers see the Titanic as real and not just a far-off history lesson.

I appreciated Ballard highlighting the lessons we can all learn from Titanic. He does not shy away from telling kids how her sinking could have been avoided which, of course, raises all the big questions. Why didn't they heed the ice warnings? How can people be so naïve? Why didn't they fill the lifeboats to capacity? In my eyes, that is the most important takeaway from Titanic; we must question everything and learn from history by learning from our mistakes.

[Taneysha forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A SHIP THAT WENT DOWN UNDER WATER B/C IT HIT AN ICE BREG.MANY OF THE PEOPLE GOT AWAY BUT MILLIONS DIED B/C OF THE COLD WATER OR THEY GOT SHOT OR HURT.I THINK THIS SHIP WAS THE BIGGEST ON UNTIL THIS DAY.This book taught me a lesson about never to ride by an ice breg i was scared when i saw the boat go up.I love this book alot.

[Brian Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informational
3-5

I remember seeing this book in the library was I was in elementary school. I was fascinated by the Titanic at a young age and remember doing a report in 3rd grade on it. I remember always picking up this book on the Titanic and others just to look at the pictures and learn information on the Titanic that I already probably knew.

[Jay Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about 10 years before the James Cameron film came out and it became Titanic mania. Robert Ballard is an inspiring figure in my life and I was fortunate enough to have met him. I hold this signed copy of his book as one of the more cherished books I own.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book so many times that the pages are all in singles now. I had Titanic-Mania for my entire childhood. I don't know how this title compares to other Titanic related subjects, but I still own and read this book 20 years later.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My students were reading this book for literature circles, so I, of course, read it too. I was so captivated by Ballard’s detailed descriptions of discovering the wreckage. Some of the stories from the passengers were ones I hadn’t heard before. All around this was a fascinating short read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything about the Titanic.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written as a children's book, however as an adult I found it amazing. The pictures/diagrams were very helpful in adding to the descriptions of the actual events that occurred.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout reading one of the most heartbreaking yet one of the most romantic novels, Titanic, I found that throughout the story that was being told, there were a lot of fights and battles for love. This story tells of a man named Jack, a man who wants to find his way back to America. He is not the wealthiest man alive but when he wins a game and gets two tickets for him and his fellow friend Milos, they then arrive at the Titanic. Little did he know, this ‘ship of dreams’ was where he was going to find the love of his life, Rose. Rose was associated with one of the wealthiest families around. She was engaged to a very wealthy man, a man that she didn't really love but who she was with out of force and fear brought out from her mother, when she revealed how they no longer had money. Both Rose and Jack lived and thought in two completely different ways, but the struggle and wanting a change is the one thing that eventually brought them together. After considering jumping off the boat into the sharp Atlantic waters, no longer wanting to live the fake life that she had to hide beyond, Rose had at that point met Jack. From that moment on, both taught each other different meanings of life, different ways of fun, new adventures that they would never forget. Jack taught Rose to live, to not always live by the rules along with Rose also showing him what the elegance life was like, the one that she did not fancy. They had fallen endlessly in love with each other planning to spend the rest of their lives together, when they arrived in America. But, all of that came to an end when the Titanic hit an iceberg and came to its end. Hours had passed, children, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, families, 1,500 dying from the harsh below freezing waters that went into the ship flooding everyone and everything.

The love that Rose and Jack had for each other forever lived on as long as Rose lived with the thought of him in her heart and memory, along with the time the Titanic first sailed and died out. A quote that I really liked in the book is “I’ll never let go…”. This is a quote that I chose because it showed how much Jack and Rose really loved each other and how no matter what happens they will always have them in their heart. In the end, throughout the story the main idea that was brought out was that love is worth fighting for. People stayed on the ship knowing that it was sinking just to be with those who they loved. Instead of thinking about herself Rose stayed with Jack because she loved him too much to ever leave his side.

I liked how much action there was throughout the story and how it left me on the edge of my seat. But I o comtridict that thought, I disliked how they took long pauses between everything and didn't really stick to one thing that had been happening at the time. Overall, even with things that I liked and disliked throughout the heart breaking story I would recommend that everyone reads it at some point if they like romantic stories along with action. I enjoyed reading about a true story that many people had went through and the affect and emotion it brings out in everyone who reads about it.

[Tyler Hosman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This non-fiction book is about the Titanic and how it sunk. This book goes over the process of building the Titanic. The book is full of details and pictures. The book shows the process of the ship sinking using graphs and diagrams to compare and contrast. It explains the journey of exploring the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean floor and the different levels of traveling down to the ocean floor. It describes the way life was on the Titanic and how the ship went down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Titanic or wants to learn more about the story of the Titanic. I liked how many details and pictures they included to help you visualize it. I disliked the fact that how long the paragraphs were and there was almost too much information.

[Brady Kunz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story in my Literature book for 7th graders. I spent time in Belfast, Ireland where the ship was built and shared pictures of what I learned and information with my 7th graders. It's a wonderful tool.

[Nine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In deutscher Übersetzung für einen Vortrag in der Schule gelesen.

[Jashard Presentine]

This book was a amazing love story. It ended bad because the love of her life died, saving her life,
She lived to tell her story.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoyed the Titanic story, even as a young kid. This book had always been in my house and I read it several times.

[Sheila Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative

[Laura Talley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully and respectfully written! The amazing initial discovery of the titanic wreckage. Such a very sad tragedy

[Caiden Walls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love all things Titanic. It’s something that has interested me since I was little.

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! Delightful! Titanic lovers will enjoy this one.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly everyone has heard of the Titanic, the “unsinkable” ocean liner that on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from England to the United States in 1912 hit an iceberg and sank into nearly twelve and a half thousand feet of water (over two miles), with the loss of some 1,500 lives out of 2,223 passengers. For the next 73 years, the wreck lay unexplored until a French-American team led by author Robert D. Ballard discovered its location in 1985. This book tells the complete tragic and fascinating story of the sinking and discovery of the Titanic for middle grade readers and will be of interest to all youngsters who enjoy reading about the great ships of the past.

After an introductory Chapter 1, Chapters 2 and 3 relate about the building and sinking of the ship. Then Chapters 4 and 5 discuss its location in 1985 and its exploration in 1986. Ballard offers his conclusions in Chapter 6 and the Epilogue. The back of the book contains a glossary, a time line, and a bibliography for further reading. The clearly written and detailed text describing the famous disaster and its finding is accompanied by Ken Marschall's stunning paintings and both period and current photographs, as well as numerous other excellent illustrations such as drawings, graphs, diagrams, and sketches. Ballard also wrote the bestselling The Discovery of the Titanic for teens and adults and Finding the Titanic, a Hello Reader! Level 4 book (1993) which I have previously reviewed, for beginning readers.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in the library of my elementary school in second grade. Seeing the paintings on the front and back cover - both by Ken Marschall, one showing the giant ship steaming mid-ocean and the other showing the massive, opulent liner, fully lit and poking halfway out of the ocean, captivated my imagination. Although it is a Scholastic publication that is aimed at school-aged readers, it actually provides one of the best introductions to the Titanic and the major characters involved in her story, from the dinner meeting that led to the idea of a ship to out-class all others, to the ship's construction in behemoth gantries in Belfast, to the many colorful passengers, to her sinking and her discovery eight decades later deep in the North Atlantic. Underappreciated as well are the paintings, diagrams and photos of the ship, ones that really (at least for me) give a clear depiction of what the ship looked like, its massive scale, and how the water was able to rise over her watertight compartments to spell her doom. It is written by the man who co-found the Titanic wreck, Robert Ballard, and I love that this book tells the known story of R.M.S. Titanic while also being a mini-biography of Ballard's lifelong passion for the ocean and science, and of the journey that led to his seeking and finding the Titanic. This is an excellent jumping-off point for anyone interested in an easy introduction to the historical truth of this ship's life and death, and the people within that story.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro narra la experiencia del doctor Ballard durante su investigación para localizar los restos del Titanic y cómo logró dar con él usando las coordenadas donde fueron recogidos los barcos salvavidas y utilizando sonares y otros instrumentales de la década de los años 80.

Además, reconstruye cómo fueron los últimos momentos de los pasajeros e incluye fotos de su viaje, y fotos de partes del barco antes (del naufragio)-después (al ser encontrado pasados más de 70 años).
El libro al ser bastante antiguo, de finales de los 80, se nos queda un poco desfasado puesto que ahora tenemos mucha más información que unos años después de haberse recién descubierto pero no por ello hay que desmerecerlo. Debo decir que ciertas imágenes hacen que se te escalofríe la piel: la cabeza de una muñeca, que en primer lugar, fue confundida con la de un niño; ó incluso varios pares de botas puestas de tal manera que hacen ver que allí reposaron los cadáveres hasta que los animales y después el agua salada se encargaron de hacerlos desaparecer. Todo un drama de la época y que ha llegado a convertirse en un mito.

[Madyson Ogdahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, because I like to hear about the titanic. It has some interesting facts and picture in the book. I would recommend this book to almost everyone. I was really surprised that when it showed the bed rooms and different rooms, the sizes of them. I love to look up the pictures that were in the book, because they were very fun to look at. I think you should read this, but especially if you like to hear about the titanic. So some time you should give it a shot!

[Chloe Dryke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Titanic is an enigmatic true story of the ship that was originally deemed as "unsinkable". All goes wrong when the beautiful ship strikes an iceberg and a hole is torn into the hull of the ship. This is a great informational text that has lots of facts about this very famous ship. I would maybe have an entire text set dedicated to the titanic, and this book would be a part of it in my classroom.