Sir Francis Drake - His Daring Deeds
Roy Garrand,
Gollanez 1988 hardback, 1989 paperback, reprinted 1997
hardback;
Puffin 2002 paperback
Sir Francis Drake - His Daring Deeds
This book was one of a plethora of 1988 publications to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Like many of the other books published that year, this book was very rapidly re-issued in paperback. It had excellent reviews and popular appeal. Roy Garrard is a well known children's author. The book is written in narrative verse and is one of the few Drake books written for three to seven year olds. However, I have found this lavishly illustrated book appeals to children of all ages. The story runs from Drake becoming an apprentice on a coaster to the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
According to the book, Drake, on his second voyage, rescues a cat who falls into the sea. Drake then adopts the cat or vice-versa. Therefore, the cat appears in every picture. Small children enjoy looking for the cat because it is often partially hidden. For example, the cat is asleep up a tree in Panama, drying its fur by a bonfire in the Magellan Strait and playing with the lace on the Queen's dress. The narrative verse is amusing and crafted at infant comprehension level. For example, when the Queen throws a party they all eat cake.
