Upon hearing the word “steamboat,” many people conjure up images of Mark Twain riding down the Mighty Mississippi dreaming up adventures for Tom, Huck, and Jim. Such adventures capture the imaginations of children everywhere.
Steamboats on the River Coloring Book will appeal to this sense of adventure in children, while also appealing to their artistic side as a coloring book full of detailed illustrations.
The history of river steamboats is presented, from their heyday (from 1830-1890) to today’s luxurious ships including the fantastic American Queen. Specialty boats such as the “U.S. Snag,” which could clear blockages in the river, show that steamboats did more than transport people and goods.
In fact, they did much more. Steamboats competed with each other in exciting races, while crowds watched from the river banks. Today, races still occur, yet some differences in the boats exist. For example, while the ship’s wheel was actually used to steer the boat years ago, today, it is no more than a nostalgic decoration. These tantalizing tidbits of trivia, combined with a sense of adventure and delightful illustrations, make for a wonderful coloring book that educates as well as entertains.