Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud

Excellent for women's empowerment and Stem. Steam. Educationexcellent story of a women navigator late 1800's and the fastest sailing trip from NY to San Francisco. Incredible story. The Adult Lit version is Flying Cloud,David W. Shaw.

In a time when few women even accompanied their husbands onboard, Ellen Prentiss navigated their clipper ship to set the world record for speed from New York City to San Francisco. A map showing the 1851 voyage of the Flying Cloud appears on the endpapers. A handsome picture book portraying an accomplished woman. I bought it for a little girl named Eleanor.

In this picture book for older readers. Tracey Fern tells the little-known story of Eleanor Prentiss, an extraordinary woman who not only navigated a clipper ship but also set a record for the fastest time from New York to San Francisco, navigating around Cape Horn in a record-breaking 89 days, 21 hours.Doesn't it seem incredible in our high-tech era how sailors used only the stars and a sextant to navigate around the world? Even more incredible (but true) is the life of Eleanor Prentiss, born the daughter of a sea captain in 1814 and taught everything about ships, including navigation, by her father, perhaps because he had no sons. Certainly this education was highly unusual for a 19th century girl. The sea was in Ellen's blood, and, not surprisingly, she married a sea captain, who took her along on his merchant ships as her navigator.When Ellen's husband was given command of a new, super-fast clipper ship, Ellen seized the opportunity to get as quickly as possible from New York to the tip of South America to San Francisco and the Gold Rush. Speed was of the essence for those looking for riches in the gold fields of California. The book portrays the considerable dangers of the voyage, including a period when the ship was becalmed (no wind, no movement!) and also the perilous stormy waters of the Cape. Fern does a terrific job of capturing the excitement of the journey, and Ellen's triumph when she sets a world record for the fastest time for this 15,000 mile voyage. The book is greatly enhanced by the beautiful water-color paintings of Caldecott-winning artist Emily Arnold McCully. The seascapes, and particularly the scenes of storms, are particularly effective. Back matter includes an author's note with further historical information, and suggestions for further reading, both books and websites, a glossary, and end pages which show a map of the Flying Cloud's 1851 Voyage.Highly recommended for Women's History Month and for those looking for stories of strong, heroic women and girls!

In celebration of Women’s History Month, I am thrilled to recommend Dare The Wind, an exciting picture book biography of a brave and inspiring naval pioneer, Eleanor “Ellen” Prentiss. Born in 1814 in the maritime hub of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Ellen “had always felt the sea tug at her heart, strong as a full-moon tide.” Her father, a schooner captain, said she had saltwater in her veins and gave her lessons in the fine points of sailing and navigation.While other girls stitched samplers and swept floors, Ellen learned that “A true navigator must have the caution to read the sea, as well, and the courage to dare the wind.” She sailed and raced for fun, then married a man given command of a clipper ship called the Flying Cloud. Ellen accompanies him as navigator on an exciting voyage from New York, around the tip of Cape Horn, and into San Francisco. Despite a broken mainmast and a fierce storm, she charts a course that led the Flying Cloud to set the world record for speed along that route, 89 days and 21 hours.The best picture book biographies transport the reader into a new time, place or perspective. Dare The Wind pairs vivid description and elegant illustrations so effectively that you can almost feel the spray of salt water on your face, and hear the weighty snap of thick canvas sails overhead. McCully’s fabulous seascapes masterfully depict the roiling, dangerous journey through grey-green storms, and the deadly blue calm of equatorial doldrums. Fern’s lovely turns of phrase keep readers deeply rooted in the nautical world, as Ellen’s face “turns white as whalebone” and her heart races “like a riptide.” The tale zips along at an engaging, page-turning pace despite the highs and lows of their daring voyage.An author’s note and glossary provide supplemental information about Ellen Prentiss’ life and the technical tools of her trade as a navigator. There are suggestions for further reading as well as endpages detailing the 1851 voyage of the Flying Cloud. While wind-driven clipper ships became obsolete in the late 1800s, Fern and McCully’s skillful storybook will ensure that the accomplishments of Ellen Prentiss will continue to inspire young readers to pursue their own groundbreaking journeys.

Ellen Prentiss lived in Massachusetts in the 1800s, and because she lived near the ocean, she spent her days watching sailing ships. Her father saw her interest and taught her sailing skills, and even taught her a rare skill: how to navigate. She grew up to be a famous navigator.Ellen's story is brilliantly illustrated in wonderful watercolors by Emily Arnold McCully. The reader can practically feel the wind, see the chop in the waves, and hear the snap of the sails. I'm not sure if young children will be interested in Ellen's story, but they will love immersing themselves in the pictures. Ages 5-9.

"Ellen Prentiss had always felt the sea tug at her heart, strong as a full-moon tide." Her father taught her how to sail and navigate, and she went on to break the world speed record for the trip from New York City, around Cape Horn and to San Francisco in 1851... by more than 30 days! She went on to break her own record, and no wooden ship or iron windjammer has ever beaten her record.Tracy Fern's story & Caldecott Medal winner Emily Arnold McCully's illustrations make this true story a real page-turner. It's wonderful to read together with early elementary school children, and mid-elementary kids will enjoy reading it on their own.This is the way to learn about history!