Finding the Titanic

by Robert D. Ballard, Ken Marschall (Illustrator)

The story of the Titanic right up to its rediscovery is told for more advanced, independent young readers by the man who discovered the great sunken ship.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, School, Picture Books, Historical, Adventure

48 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1993

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

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent beginning chapter book for a second to third grade reader. It covers both the history and sinking of the Titanic as well as the search for and discovery of it by Robert Ballard. It is accompanied by wonderful photographs. My 8 year old grandson pronounced it AMAZING.

[Alexis Caudill · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
Finding the Titanic is an informational book about the Titanic and how Robert D. Ballard discovered the Titanic on the ocean floor.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
This would be a great book for PreK-3rd grade. It is so very interesting and full of interesting information.
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
I would use this book for the reading portion of my class.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
Students interested in learning more about the Titanic would like this book. Even students interested in ships would like this book.
5. Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
I would definitely use this book in literature circles. It would be good for students to read together and discuss. It would also be good to work with fluency with the students.
6. Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
I do not think I would read this book aloud to the class. It would be more of a book on the shelf for students to read for fun.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
National Geographic Readers: Titanic by Melissa Stewart
Scholastic Reader Level 3: Remembering the Titanic by Frieda Wishinsky
The Titanic: Lost and Found by Judy Donnelly
8. Multimedia connections (audio books, movie) available (1 pt)
There is no multimedia associated with this book.

[Gabby Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly read it for accuracy, storytelling isn't accurate but ships infrastructure was!!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man and his team search for the Titanic and find it 75 years after its tragic sinking. This true story is both informative and sad - with actual photos from their search and of the Titanic lying on the ocean floor.
Mr. Robert Ballard who, with his team, found the Titanic on the ocean floor was disappointed that people years later brought things up from it, as he felt it should be undisturbed.
Easy reading for level 4 readers.

[Carrie Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love history, being a teacher. The Titanic has always been a great hobby/thrill of mine. I have been to many exhibits. I love Robert Ballard because he believed nothing should have been disturbed from this"grave-sight", and took extreme measures to hide its location. Unfortunatly the French and others found it and looted it down to nothing, Roberts worst fear.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the pictures under the sea. Explores should have left the sight alone.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a children's book originally published in 1993, so it is old but still holds up nearly 30 years later. It was intended for gradeschool readers, so it doesn't go into a lot of depth about the Titanic, but keeps the narrative concise for ease of reading. Ken Marschall contributed some artwork that -at the time- I believe was only available in this book.

It tells the story of Titanic from sailing day -through the sinking and aftermath- into the then-recent past when famed marine explorer Robert D. Ballard located the wreck. It does a good job in providing context appropriate to the level of the reader, but do not expect to find new information if you are a seasoned Titanic reader. I do think that a collection of Robert D. Ballard's books would be incomplete without it.

[Catherine Petrini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This chapter book, written for advanced beginner readers, tells the true story of the Titanic's sinking and the mission to find it, decades later, on the ocean floor. I was impressed when I saw that the author is Robert Ballard himself, the man who led the expedition to find the Titanic.

The book tells two stories. One of them focuses on Ruth Becker, age 12, a second-class passenger who survived the sinking. The other is Ballard's own story of locating and photographing the ship on the ocean floor. Both are well done for the age group, giving the facts and conveying the tragedy without being too frightening for its young audience. The descriptions are clear, and the photographs and drawings help bring the story to life.

[Taylor]

In this informational book by, Robert D. Ballard. I learned facts about the Titanic that I never would've known. I was able to experience what it was like to be there when the ship sunk by hearing about it from a survivor Ruth Becker. She gave visuals about the inside of the ship, while they added pictures. They also added fun facts about the ship along with many more interesting facts.


I would recommend this book to those who are interested in the Titanic. I would also recommend tis to those who appreciate history and want to learn about it. I liked this book because it provided information that I never would have known or looked up on my own.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert D. Ballard is the man who discovered the great Titanic almost 75 years after its tragic demise. He authors this book from his personal perspective of how he always hoped to discover the Titanic and when he finally did.He tells of the the historical events that happened just before and just after the ship's sinking by focusing on a young girl named Ruth Becker, and her story as a survivor of the Titanic.

This was easy to read and understand and our lower elementary students really enjoy reading it. It's also a bonus that the author is the person who actually discovered the Titanic!

[Yesenia MR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides detailed facts about the titanic. It also has real pictures of different elements of the titanic. It has little side notes that tell different facts.
This is a great book for students wanting information or doing a research project about the titanic.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely a book eery classroom should have. easy to understand but written scientifically by the man who actually found the wreck and illustrated by the definitive Titanic artist, Ken Marschall. Highly recommended.

[Angela Marshick]

I really liked it. It was easy to read and gave more information about how the ship may have sank.

[Jackie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a very good book to teach children about the titanic in a non-threatening or scary way. It would be more for 4-8.

[Mirha Sultan · Rating 4 out of 5]

its an amazing book.Some INTERESTING facts. I love it

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story of the crew who ventured to go down to find the Titanic, what they encountered, what the found. Many things in the ship were found undamaged and are displayed today.

[Le Zah]

very good

[Morgan Marquess]

Age:4-8
Lexile: 650L
he story of the Titanic right up to its rediscovery is told for more advanced, independent young readers by the man who discovered the great sunken ship.

[Bismah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and beautiful pictures.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great short chapter book for children to learn more about the Titanic. The book includes beautiful pictures and illustrations.

[Brayden Marker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a guy named Robert D. Ballard who is trying to find the Titanic. He had a dream of finding the Titanic since he was a boy. Robert searched for days by where the life boats were found and there was nothing. Then he wondered if it got buried in a mud slide. Then he was remembering what the survived passengers said about that day. One of the girls named Ruth was talking about the titanic you could think of it as a hotel. It was like an eleven story building. Ruth first found the wealthy first class passengers. At the lowest part you could find swimming pools and steam baths. The hallways in the lower deck was crowned. She heard many different languages. Hundreds of passengers cheered as the Titanic pulled away from the dock. They waved from their friends at shore. First few days of the voyage the weather was clear and the ocean was calm. Ruth woke up on April 15 and figured out that the titanic hit an iceberg. Her family left as quickly as possible. They joined a group of a passengers waiting to be led up the boat deck. A crew man came up to the life boat taking women and children first. Her family got on a boat got lowered down to the water. They started to row towards a light. The survivors tried to keep the boats together by calling out to people in the dark. They held torches up in the air if they thought there was a rescue ship or anything. The ocean became rough. Ruth was drenched by cold water and pulled up alongside them was a rescue boat. A crewmen sent down swing from a rope to their boat. The crewman pulled her up the side of the boat. Someone told her that her parents were looking for her. Ruth's family gave her a big hug and her eyes filled with tears of relief. When they got back to shore people waited for their family and friends in the rain. About 75 years after the ship sank Roberts’s team is searching for the wreck. He wanted to find the lost ship more than ever. Late one night Stu Harris pointed to the screen and said there was something. There was a huge boiler from the titanic. They were excited that they found the piece. They were also sad that all those people died on that great ship. They held a few moments of silence. Then all of a sudden there was the titanic sitting right next to it. They found great stuff but there was still mysteries of what happen.

Ruth was a great person in this book. In the beginning she was amazed at the titanic. Towards the end of the book she was grateful that her family lived. A great thing that she lived. To everyone about the ship. She was brave person doing what she did to survive.

I thought this book was great. I like how they told about what happen to the survivors on the boat. The worse part about this book is that a bunch of people died.

I recommend this book to people who want to learn about the Titanic and how it was found.

[Danyelle DeAugustine]

This biography is a biography about finding the sunken ship Titanic and also about a passenger who was on the ship, a little girl named Ruth. Readers go through the journey with Robert D. Ballard who informs readers on his quest to find the Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic. He also discusses Ruth's experience that night of the horrible sinking, and what it looked like through her eyes.
This biography did everything it was supposed to. It told the story of a person using third person view point. It included facts that could be supported. Some of these facts include the correct date, why the ship sank and how people reacted. It was personable to younger children because Ruth was a young child when this event occurred. It is also a good book for children because it has appropriate diction for their age. I also thought this book was an appropriate book for children because although the Titanic sinking caused many deaths it did not include gruesome details that would affect the readers.

[LeAndra Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm definitely a Titanic nut!! I love anything and everything about this ship. This chapter book is able to provide a lot information in a little package. It makes information clear and concise to the reader, and provides a wealth of information, whether the reader is an avid Titanic fan, or a curious student looking for more information!! Big thumbs up!

[coty · Rating 5 out of 5]

a short short book on finding the titanci shorten by the writer seems to have payed off. instead of reading a long 1000 paged booka bout it this 45 paged book sums it all ob in a short book about finding the titanc one of the best movies ever and a best short book.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholastic's Hello Reader series offers beginning readers interesting information on exciting events in history. My First Hello Readers use basic words to reinforce phonics and sight vocabulary. This reading level offers a greater vocabulary and longer sentence length to beginning readers.

[Danielle Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great chapter hook! It is very informative, and also interesting. Titanic is something crucial to know about because it is so well known and so amazing. The pictures are very intriguing. Adults and children alike will learn a lot while reading this book.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading this book with my students in reading class! :) They are loving it! The book jumps between Robert Ballard's exploration and the on board experiences of Ruth Becker, a twelve year old Titanic survivor.

[Tyler Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the personal narrative about finding the titanic and also the story of the sinking told from the perspective of an actual survivor.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Robert D. Ballard. Told about him and his crew finding the place where the Titanic Sank. Also tells the story of Ruth one the passangers

[Mustang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think finding the titanic is realy cool. the picturs jj took were awsome.RobertD Ballard is the one who found the TITANIC.