Sea Cows, Shamans, and Scurvy

Alaska's First Naturalist: Georg Wilhelm Steller

Ann Arnold

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Download Image Ann Arnold Sea Cows, Shamans, and Scurvy
Buy it now

Available Formats

Book
On June 4, 1741, Georg Wilhelm Steller set sail from Avacha Bay in Siberia on the St. Peter, under the command of Vitus Bering. The crew was bound for America on the last leg of an expedition whose mission was to explore, describe, and map Russia’s vast lands from the Ural Mountains across Siberia to the Kamchatka Peninsula, and possibly lay claim to the northwest coast of America – if they could find it, for no European had ever reached America by this route. Officially, Steller was the ship’s mineralogist, but in practice he was its doctor, minister, and naturalist as well. Appointed to the expedition in 1737 by the Academy of Science in St. Petersburg, he was sworn to secrecy concerning any discoveries.
 
 
Making judicious use of Steller’s richly detailed journals and liberal use of illustrations and maps, Ann Arnold allows the reader to join Steller on this fascinating voyage and its final dangerous mission, which left half the crew dead and the rest suffering from scurvy.

Connect with the Author

Ann Arnold

Sign Up for
Author Updates

Book Excerpts

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One

Sonntagskind: A Sunday's Child 1709-1734

IN ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME A CHILD BORN ON Sunday was thought to be blessed with magical gifts and good fortune. The Romans called him albae gallinae filius, child of the white hen, or fortunae filius, fortune’s child.

In German-speaking countries he is called a Sonntagskind, and in their legends and fairy tales only a Sun-day’s child can make contact with the realm of the spirits, be released from a spell, unearth treasures, have dreams fulfilled, and bring good fortune to others.

Read the full excerpt

Back

Reviews

Praise for Sea Cows, Shamans, and Scurvy

“This is a detailed and lavishly illustrated biography of Georg William Steller, Alaska’s first naturalist.” —Kliatt

“When Steller finds his passion, the book does so as well, revealing much about early exploration, scientific study, and the hierarchy of command.” —The Horn Book

“This biography appears to be very extensively researched and overflows with historical details.” —Booklist

Back

About the Author

Ann Arnold

ANN ARNOLD is the author and illustrator of The Adventurous Chef: Alexis Soyer, an IRA Children’s Book Award Notable Book. She lives in Berkeley, California.

Ann Arnold

Back

Buy the Book

Available Formats and Book Details

Sea Cows, Shamans, and Scurvy
Alaska's First Naturalist: Georg Wilhelm Steller
Ann Arnold

Hardcover

Hardcover
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
October 2008
Hardcover
ISBN: 9780374399474
ISBN10: 0374399476
Middle-Grade Nonfiction
6 1/8 x 9 1/4 inches, 240 pages, Includes black-and-white illustrations, maps, notes, a bibliography, a timeline, maps, and an appendix of plants and animals
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Range: 7 and up Information for Librarians

Information for Librarians

$21.00
Buy
Back

From The Publisher

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Latest on Facebook

Latest on Twitter

Back

{ About }

{ Services }

{ Store }

{ Publishers }

Education

Children's

© 2011 Macmillan