Philip Christian Stead's 365 Boats

New Website and Blog!

2012-01-30T11:35:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone,

This message is to say thanks for visiting 365 Boats. If you are new to the site please stay awhile and travel the world from the comfort of my stamp collection. From now on all new posts will be made on my new website and blog which can be found at www.philipstead.com. If you have enjoyed 365 Boats there will be more fun to come at the new site. Beginning Tuesday, January 31, and continuing every Tuesday following we will shift our focus from boat watching to bird watching, philatelistically speaking. (No, that's not a word. But it almost is.)

Sincerely,
Phil

Announcing the 3rd Annual Phildecott and Steadbery Awards. Also, a Short Essay on the Desperate Need for Friendliness and Civility on the Internet

2012-01-09T16:52:00.003-05:00

From the Desks of Philip and ErinStead:

Hello Friends,

This is Phil writing. Every year forthe last three years Erin and I have compiled a list of our favorite books ofthe year. The internet is overflowing with best-of lists and worst-of lists andeverything in between. We don’t claim that the books on our list are theabsolute “best-ofs” of 2012. To be honest I’m not sure if it’s possible, oreven productive, to limit books in that way. Books mean different things todifferent people. One book can mean drastically different things to the sameperson across the span of a lifetime. This does not diminish the power ofbooks. It adds to their mystery. In assembling our list we’re merely trying toshare the books that meant something special to us at this point in our lives.These are books that challenged us to be better writers and illustrators. Thereare hundreds of fantastic books that are released every year, many of which gounnoticed (including by us). That is the fault of chance or of Erin and Idirectly, not of the books themselves. Some books we failed to see. Some bookswe were not ready to see.

We make this post every year, in part, to add to the dwindling level ofpositivity and friendliness that exists on the internet. The internet has madeus mean. It has made us bullies. For whatever reason it encourages our lesserangels to stand up tall and announce to the world: I AM ME AND I AM LOUDER ANDSMARTER THAN YOU.

Believeme, nothing is sacred anymore. Consider this object lesson. Last summer Ivisited the website of my local newspaper. I clicked on a seemingly innocuouslink:

Huron River calmer in weeks since spring storms, but flow stillabove average

Nothingglamorous. Just a little update on the local environment. Against my betterjudgment I scrolled to the comments section of the post. I’ve learned not toread the comments on news articles. Nothing good happens in that world. Acomplete stranger can ruin my day in a heartbeat. But surely an article aboutthe water levels of the Huron River would be above reproach?

Shepard145

At 9:14 AM on June 22, 2011

People actually waste time measuringthe flow of this drainage ditch of a river? LOL

Drainageditch? Um, okay. Here is how I would describe the Huron. It’sa 130 mile long meandering river that invites you to slow down, wade in, walk itstrails, canoe its ponds, fetch your binoculars and quietly watch for thehundreds of birds that call it home—Great Egrets, Snow Buntings, andBlue-winged Warblers to name a few. The Huron River encourages me to stand verystill for a moment to better hear a birdsong. But even if I flinch I will berewarded— a heron unfurls its massive prehistoric wings, breaking from the calmwater, sending ripples from the point of takeoff slowly, slowly, slowly to thebank where I stand, reminding me that the heron and I are connected in somesmall way because we share this place, the Huron River.

Once whilewalking the trails along the Huron River I found a snapping turtle that must’veweighed 70 pounds. Actually my dog, Wednesday, found it. She barked and barkedas the turtle, not out of concern, but out of a desire to be left alone,slipped underwater and disappeared. I told everyone I saw that day (and for aweek afterward) about the biggest turtle I ever saw.

The HuronRiver makes every day of my life better. Last week, out on my morning walk, Istopped to watch the ducks. One duck in particular was playing a game. He’ddive from a block of floating ice into the cold water, disappear for a moment,then climb back up and do it again. He did this for ten whole minutes. Clearlyhe was enjoying himself. He reminded me of the kids who at that same spot nearArgo Dam every summer leap from the train trestle thirty feet overhead into thewater below. They disappear for a moment then swim to shore, climb back up anddo it again. I think they’re crazy. But also I can’t help but be infected witha little bit of their enthusiasm for life. The Huron River brings joy to me andto Erin and to Wednesday. It brings joy to kids and ducks alike who can’t helpbut hurl themselves into it. I would call the Huron River a lot of things. Butwhatever, I guess we can settle on “drainage ditch”.

I hope that this post encourages those who read it to find a great book andshare it with someone—a simple act, but an important one. Afterward, maybereward yourself with a quiet walk along the river, content in knowing that youadded to the sum total of goodness in the world.

So without further ado we bring you the 2012 Phildecott Award winners.

Hopper and Wilson, Maria van Leishout

This was my (Phil’s) absolutefavorite book of the year. I love this book. Erin and I taught a writingworkshop this year as a fundraiser for 826 Michigan. We made sure to read thisbook aloud to a room of adults as an example of how to write a beautiful book.

Melvin and the Boy, Lauren Castillo

Speaking of that 826 workshop, thisis another book we gladly brought along as a lesson in wonderful bookmaking.This quiet, unassuming picture book is a masterpiece that could easily gounnoticed. The writing and illustrations work together so perfectly, soseamlessly that those of us writers and illustrators that have ever struggledto bring a book into existence cannot help but marvel at the apparent ease withwhich Ms. Castillo brings us this gem.

A House in the Woods, Inga Moore

Erin fell in love with this bookinstantly. She showed it to me and I fell right behind her. Some books aredestined to be pulled off the shelf over and over again when we feel stuck.This is one of those books.

Stuck, Oliver Jeffers

Did someone say “stuck”? We gave thisbook (among others) to our niece and nephews for Christmas. Books can sometimesget lost in the battery-operated-robot excitement of Christmas morning. Butonce the batteries have run out those books start to look pretty interesting. Iwas really happy the other day when my sister called to let me know that allthree kids have gone crazy for Stuck. Seriously crazy. Wildscreaming, laughing, jumping up and down crazy. And how could you not? Expertlyillustrated. Expertly written. Funny is not easy, but Stuck pullsit off with ease. As does our next book…

A Place to Call Home, by Alexis Deacon, illustrated by Vivianne Schwartz

Quite honestly, one of the funniestpicture books of the year. Nay, one of the funniest ever. To quotethe illustrator’s website: An epicpicture book about a brave band of brothers, lost and looking for a new home.Will they find it, across the sea, the mountains, the desert, through endlesslabyrinths and beyond the edge of the world where strange beasts are lurking?And will they stay together? And how will they know where they are going ifthey are all wearing protective helmets?

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Eric Carle

Erin and I came across this book in aunique way. We were driving back to Michigan after attending the Rhode IslandChildren’s Book Festival. Along the way we took a little detour to visit theEric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. On display were original illustrationsfrom The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. Just fantastic. This book is a shotin the arm to any artist, of any age, who has ever felt creatively blocked.This book just makes you want to go make something. And that is a good thing.

Duck, Death, and the Tulip, by Wolf Erlbruch

This is an unusual book, and tough tosum up. Give this book a chance and I guarantee it will affect you in some way.In our desire to make every book mean everything to everyone we can forget thatsome books will have a smaller audience, and that’s okay. This book will mean alot to someone who needs it at the exact moment it falls into their lap. Andshouldn’t we celebrate that?

George Flies South, Simon James

Just a great story that’s nearimpossible not to love instantly. The illustrations call to mind the best workof Quentin Blake, but with an added softness that perfectly suits thenarrative.

My Name is Elizabeth!, Annika Dunklee, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

I made a horrible mistake by notbuying this book the moment I saw it. For some reason I was feeling frugal thatday. That was months ago and the book is still rattling around in my head.Frugality is not always a virtue. My New Year’s resolution: Be less frugal. Andgo buy My Name is Elizabeth!.

Stop Snoring, Bernard!, Zacharia OHora

Just a nice, simple book, lovinglymade. This book is primarily responsible for the cameo appearance of giraffesin a picture book that I’m working on right now in the studio. There are fewanimals more fun to draw than a giraffe. Yet they so rarely appear inpicture books. Why? Perhaps we’ll never know.

Conference of the Birds, Peter Sís

This book is not technicallycategorized as a children's picture book. However, this book defies any kind of categorization. It is a stand-alone work of art. Some adults will love it. Some childrenwill love it too. Hold it in your hands and you can sense that you areholding something Important. Important with a capital “I”.

Well that concludes this year’sPhildecott Awards. Surely there are books that we’ve forgotten or overlooked.Likely, next week we’ll stumble on something great and shout Oh, man, how didwe miss this?!

Which brings us to this year’s Steadbery Awards…

We are absolutely positive that wemissed loads of great potential Steadbery winners this year. This was thebusiest year of our professional lives and we couldn’t help but get a littlebehind on our reading. With that disclaimer I would like to present to you theworks of writing that really stood out to us, and most challenged us to bebetter at what we do.

And the 2012 Steadbery Awards go to:

Inside Out & Back Again, by Thanha Lai

This was one of the first books Iread this year and I knew instantly that it would be on this list. I read theentire book in one sitting on a train from D.C. to New York. I finished it,turned to Erin and said: This book is perfect. It has no flaws. I amblown away by what she’s done here. Isn’t it great when that happens?

Where Things Comes Back, John Corey Whaley

This book is a true work of art inthat, if you are open to it, upon reading it you will become a differentperson, seeing the world through slightly different eyes. Sometimes we need toremember that the primary mission and function of any work of art is to do justthat.

Dead End in Norvelt, Jack Gantos

Gantos has a knack for creatingworlds and characters so slightly-strange and compelling that you end upfeeling a little sad when the book is done and you have to say goodbye.

The Lying Carpet, David Lucas

Erin and I are David Lucas fans plainand simple. This book was not easy to track down. Thank goodness for localindependent stores that will go to the ends of the earth to make theircustomers happy and well-read (I’m looking at you Nicola’s Books). This bookwill be unlike anything else you’ve read in a long, long time. Don’t be afraidto do something nice for yourself and ask your local bookseller to help findyou a copy.

We Need A Horse, Sheila Heti, illustrated by Clare Rojas
This is probably a good time to officially thank our local bookstore,Nicola’s Books. We would have missed so many of these books without their help.Having true booksellers in your community—people who know their customers andknow what books they will love—is an amazing gift. Some books find a wideaudience on their own. But others need help. They need to be handed from oneperson to another. They need to be shown face out on a book display in awell-lit cozy environment like the children’s nook at Nicola’s Books. WeNeed a Horse, maybe the most beautifully written text of 2012, is a bookthat we would not have found without the help of Nicola and her staff. WeNeed a Horse is a perfect example of why We Need Great Bookstores.

Until Next Time, Happy Reading,

Phil (and Erin) Stead

Ducks on the ice, Barton Dam, Huron River, Ann Arbor

Boat #1! The BIG BLUE BOAT

2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

We've finally made it! Our countdown is complete! We've traveled the world and arrived home just in time to wish Jonathan good luck as he embarks on his own adventure aboard the Big Blue Boat.

If you're new to this blog I've been counting down to the release date of my newest book Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat using boat and ship stamps from around the world. I began collecting boat stamps when I was 10 or 11 years old. This blog has really just been an excuse to spend a year doing something that I loved to do as a kid. I would recommend that everyone try this sometime.

So Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat releases today, June 7th. By the way, this is Jonathan:

In this story Jonathan heads out on a journey to find his missing bear, Frederick. This is Frederick:

Frederick also happens to be my bear too. I got Frederick when I was 3 years old. I took him everywhere. Here is Frederick helping me open presents on Christmas Day:

And here is Frederick (many years later) accompanying Erin and I on a road trip through bear country:

Here is Jonathan holding up Frederick so Frederick can see the Big Blue Boat:

When Frederick goes missing Jonathan boards the Big Blue Boat. A tugboat captain waves goodbye:
Jonathan makes new friends along the way—a mountain goat, a circus elephant, a whale:

They encounter trouble along the way. There are pirates:

And lifeboats:

Will Jonathan ever find Frederick? Find out at your local bookstore or library!

Making Jonathan was the most fun and rewarding creative adventure of my life so far. Although 365 Boats ends here I hope that my journey (and Jonathan's) will soon be your journey too.

But in the meantime...

You can read more about the creation of the artwork in Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by heading over to Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (my favorite internet meeting place for all things related to children's book illustration).

To watch a homemade book trailer for Jonathan simply click here. And to read a little bit about the creation of the book trailer just click here.

And of course you're welcome to stick around a while at 365 Boats and tour the world via the global postal system.

Safe travels,

Phil

Boat #2, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-06-06T12:50:00.001-04:00

Only one day to go!

Boat #3, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-06-05T08:27:00.000-04:00

Very nice.

Boat(s) #4, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-06-04T11:22:00.005-04:00

Many of my best boat stamps come from the British Isles. Today we're paying one last visit to the Isle of Man. Tomorrow we'll swing by the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Boat #5, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-06-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Boat #6, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-06-02T20:52:00.004-04:00

Someday I'd like to illustrate a book and have it look much like like this stamp. In fact it kind of reminds me of one of my favorite books, Alberic the Wise and Other Journeys, by Norton Juster, illustrated by Domenico Gnoli...

Boat #7, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-06-01T05:09:00.000-04:00

Boat #8, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-05-31T05:08:00.000-04:00

Boat #9, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-05-30T05:06:00.000-04:00

Boat #10, THE FINAL 10 - Highlights from a Few of My Favorite Stamp Sets

2011-05-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

We begin our final ten with this gorgeously illustrated stunner from Panama. Besides being a great stamp it also happens to remind me of my favorite palindrome: a man a plan a canal Panama. Go ahead, try it backwards: a man a Plan a canal panama

Announcing the Final Ten Boats!

2011-05-26T16:48:00.002-04:00

This elephant is very pleased to announce that beginning May 29th we will be counting down our LAST 10 BOATS en route to our final destination, the release date of Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat (June 7th). The top ten will include greatest hits from some of my absolute favorite stamp sets. So come on back on the 29th. You won't be disappointed!

Boat #11, United States - Know Your Arctic Explorers

2011-05-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

Feeling bored or uninspired? Try googling Elisha Kent Kane and learning a little bit about an arctic explorer you've never heard of. This guy led a pretty fascinating life. Kane and his men were trapped in the arctic ice for 21 months. Facing a third winter on the ice they made a daring 83 day march which ultimately led to their rescue. Of course all during the harrowing two year icy siege the Inuit in the neighborhood were happily hunting, eating well, and occasionally guiding a lost and frostbitten explorer back to his poorly insulated ship. Makes you wonder who the real explorers were.

Boat #12, East Germany

2011-05-24T08:27:00.000-04:00

Boat(s) #13, Monserrat

2011-05-23T07:45:00.002-04:00

We're getting close to our final destination. Today we have a wonderful set from Montserrat complete in its original, fully illustrated sheet.

Boat #14, USSR

2011-05-20T07:32:00.000-04:00

Boat #15, Poland

2011-05-19T08:28:00.000-04:00

Boat #16, Great Britain

2011-05-18T08:28:00.000-04:00

Boat #17, Hungary

2011-05-17T08:27:00.000-04:00

Boat #18, Belgium

2011-05-16T12:26:00.002-04:00

Looks like this stamp has had a rough trip.

Boat #19, The Netherlands

2011-05-15T06:53:00.000-04:00

Boat #20, Turkey

2011-05-14T06:52:00.000-04:00

Boat #21, Senegal

2011-05-13T18:51:00.002-04:00

Boat #22, United States

2011-05-13T06:49:00.000-04:00

David Glasgow Farragut and his foster brother David Dixon Porter were two very important figures in U.S. naval history. Farragut was in command of the Union fleet that overtook New Orleans on April 25, 1862, a turning point in the Civil War.

Boat(s) #23, Monaco

2011-05-11T08:44:00.000-04:00

A great pair of ships from Monaco:

Boat #24, Wallis and Futuna

2011-05-10T11:40:00.002-04:00

Wallis and Futuna is a French Polynesian territory that sits right about here:

Boat #25, Monaco

2011-05-09T08:01:00.000-04:00

Boat #26, United States

2011-05-08T07:58:00.000-04:00

I've said it here before, but it always amazes me that a tiny piece of paper like this can survive in tact for over a century.

Boat #27, Paraguay

2011-05-07T08:57:00.000-04:00

Boat #28, Oman

2011-05-06T07:55:00.000-04:00

Boat #29, Norway

2011-05-05T12:44:00.000-04:00

Boat #30, Poland

2011-05-04T05:00:00.001-04:00

Boat #31, Poland

2011-05-03T04:59:00.001-04:00

What a great stamp!

Boat #32, Greece

2011-05-02T13:58:00.000-04:00

Boat #33, Gibraltar

2011-04-30T04:55:00.001-04:00

Boat #34, Greece

2011-04-29T07:11:00.000-04:00

Boat #35, St. Helena - Mutiny on the HMS Bounty

2011-04-28T07:54:00.000-04:00

William Bligh captained the HMS Resolution from 1776–1780. But it was his tenure on the ill-fated HMS Bounty that made him famous. On this day in the year 1789, 18 mutineers led by Fletcher Christian set Captain Bligh and those loyal to him afloat on a small boat. The mutineers claimed the action was necessary in response to Bligh's cruel behavior, but some have speculated that the mutineers had merely become fond of the Tahitian lifestyle. The 18 men settled in Tahiti and on nearby Pitcairn Island. Many residents of present day Pitcairn are direct descendants of the mutineers. Bligh and his men managed to survive a harrowing trip aboard their small boat, finally landing on Timor before later returning to England.

Boat #36, USSR

2011-04-27T07:10:00.000-04:00

Boat #37, Greece

2011-04-26T07:10:00.000-04:00

Boat #38, Indochina

2011-04-25T07:09:00.000-04:00

Boat #39, Germany

2011-04-24T07:52:00.000-04:00

Boat #40, Greece

2011-04-23T07:52:00.000-04:00

Boat #41, Bhutan

2011-04-22T07:51:00.000-04:00

Boat #42, Amos Visits Korea

2011-04-21T06:51:00.000-04:00

Last week Erin and I were pleasantly surprised when a package arrived in the mail with 4 copies of A Sick Day for Amos McGee printed in Korean. Our Korean publisher did a wonderful job hand-making the cover type to mimic Erin's original woodcut type. Nicely done!

Boat #43, South Africa

2011-04-20T05:58:00.000-04:00

Boat #44, Costa Rica

2011-04-19T08:15:00.000-04:00

As seen here Queen Isabella likes to be remembered for her patronage of Christopher Columbus. Her expulsion of the Jews and Muslims from Spain is apparently less stamp-worthy.

Boat #45, Nyassa

2011-04-18T08:44:00.000-04:00

Nyassa was a Portuguese colony in Mozambique. The Nyassa Company had free reign from the Portuguese government to develop the land. The company was large and prosperous enough to require its own original postage. I'm sure the Nyassa Company did a lot of damage in East Africa, but at least they left us some pretty stamps, right?

Boat #46, Réunion

2011-04-17T08:41:00.002-04:00

Réunion is a tiny French island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. Like many small island nations and territories Réunion has a fine postal tradition.

Boat #47, WWII Germany

2011-04-16T08:32:00.001-04:00

This is the only boat stamp I have from WWII era Germany. The majority of German stamps from that time period feature the head of a certain insecure dictator sporting a scowl and a silly mustache. He looked a little bit like this guy.

Boat #48, Yachting In The Bahamas

2011-04-15T07:57:00.000-04:00

Boat #49, Fiji

2011-04-14T19:56:00.000-04:00

Boat #50, Riding the mighty Colorado River

2011-04-13T09:04:00.000-04:00

In 1869 John Wesley Powell led the Powell Geographic Expedition, a three month long trip down the Green and Colorado rivers. He and his companions became the first white men to pass through the Grand Canyon.

The Making of the Music for the Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat Book Trailer

2011-04-12T09:12:00.001-04:00

Hi there, folks. I thought we'd take a short break from our regular stamp countdown and talk a little bit about music. And movie making. I got it into my head a while back that I really wanted to make a book trailer for Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat. I put it off for a long time using the excuse that I had no idea how to make a movie. I firmly believe however that having no idea how to do something is NOT a good enough excuse not to do it. So at the beginning of February, when it was particularly cold and nasty outside, I sat down and taught myself the basics of moving pictures. As it turns out you don't need much in the way of skill to produce a competent short book trailer with Reading-Rainbow-Ken-Burns style imagery (a camera slowly panning over a still image). Before long I had a nice little trailer clocking in at just over a minute long. Next I wanted to add some original music. Making music is my secret passion. I never really took official lessons (sorry Mom and Dad), but over the years I've taught myself the rough basics of several instruments—guitar, banjo, ukelele, harmonica, and little bit of piano even (a very little bit). Music making is pure fun for me. It helps keep me sane when things are going poorly in the studio. There's nothing better for stress than organized noise making. While in art school I began recording many of my musical experiments, some which were more successful than others. Since then I've recorded dozens and dozens of tracks at varying levels of competence. Some could only marginally be described as music. Others, despite my lack of skill, are really not that bad. When I first have an idea for a piece of music I usually start by recording a layer with the one instrument that I can actually play pretty well, the guitar. I've had this guitar since the 6th grade and it has served me well over the years:

Next, I typically add more layers with instruments that I know less about. In the case of the music for the Jonathan trailer I chose the banjo. My banjo is unique from most other banjos. It has six strings (instead of four) and is tuned like a guitar. This means that I don't have to know how to play a real banjo in order to play this thing. A very handy shortcut for me.

For the Jonathan trailer I really wanted to add an accordion sound. This was problematic because I really, really don't know how to play the accordion. But like I said, having no idea how to do something is NOT a good enough excuse not to do it. (You may be asking yourself at this point: If he can't play the accordion then why does he have one? Good question. But an even better question is: If he can't play the accordion then why does he have THREE accordions?) So I sat down with my nice red accordion and spent three hours fiddling around and making noise. When I found two or three notes that sounded good together I wrote them down. Eventually I had a very simple melody that any beginning accordion student could play without difficulty. Unfortunately I am far less skilled than a beginner. And I am too impatient to practice. I simply couldn't remember how to play the melody when it came time to record. So I came up with a new plan. Sticky notes.

(Here is my dog, Wednesday, checking out my noise machine.)

I wrote numbers on each key so I would know in what order to play them. Very professional.

It took a while to get it just right, but it was well worth the effort. Watch the link below and let me know what you think!

Boat #51, (The Making of) The Big Blue Boat

2011-04-11T08:24:00.000-04:00

Today I have a very special link to share. I've been meaning for a long, long time to do a post of some kind that details how I go about making a picture from start to finish. I love to see how other artists work. I always discover something that causes to me to say: "Really? You do it that way? Why don't I do it that way too? Illustration is a lonely business. A lot of time is spent in the studio away from our fellow humans and from other artists. (I of course am a little less lonely as I'm married to my studiomate.) This tendency toward the hermetic life has made the blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast an enormous asset to our community. Julie Danielson at 7-imp has compiled hundreds of illustrator interviews and virtual studio visits. Erin and I have both had the pleasure of stopping by the 7-imp blog before. This time when Julie asked me if I would like to stop in and share some work from Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally put something together about my illustration process. Below are the first and last steps in the making of an illustration. To see all the steps in between please visit Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Thanks, and enjoy!

Boat #52, Armenia

2011-04-10T08:57:00.000-04:00

Boat #53, Golden Gate (sans bridge)

2011-04-09T11:25:00.000-04:00

Here we have the scenic Golden Gate of San Francisco, pre-bridge. In 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed. At the time it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. We Michiganders know a thing or two about bridges. In 1957 we completed construction of the Mackinac Bridge and subsequently set off a decades long feud over how exactly a bridge should be measured. The Mackinac Bridge, AKA Big Mac, connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. From anchorage to anchorage (meaning from beginning to end) it was the longest bridge in the world. However, the Golden Gate Bridge has a larger distance between towers, which is the more typical way of measuring a bridge. If you ask me I think that the Michigan way of measuring makes more sense. Ours is bigger, plain and simple.

Boat #54, Suriname

2011-04-08T04:24:00.001-04:00

I'm pleased that we finally have an opportunity to visit Suriname. Seeing as how it's the smallest sovereign nation in South America it is sort of easy to miss. We're very thorough though here at 365 boats!

Boat #55, USSR

2011-04-07T04:23:00.000-04:00

Boat #56, USSR

2011-04-06T04:22:00.000-04:00

When I think Soviet Union I think "luxury cruiselines".

Boat #57, Portugal

2011-04-05T16:23:00.000-04:00

Boat #58, Sweden

2011-04-03T07:04:00.001-04:00

I Find Myself Filled With Contempt

2011-04-01T21:23:00.004-04:00

I find myself filled with contempt for Godaddy CEO, Bob Parsons, who recently videotaped his vicious killing of an elephant while on vacation in Zimbabwe. He then posted the video on the internet and bragged about his accomplishment on Twitter. Ugh. This world is full of ugliness—so much so that we become immune to it. But this action has filled me with disgust to indescribable degree. So what can we do? I doubt shame will have much of an effect on Mr. Parsons. Sociopaths have trouble with shame. But we might just be able to hit him where he actually feels something—his wallet. As of today philipstead.com and erinstead.com are no longer hosted by Godaddy. If you happen to have a website hosted by Godaddy then I would urge to transfer to another company as well. It's cheap, it's easy, and it's worth it. Godaddy competitor Namecheap.com is even offering a transfer deal in which 20 percent of the profits go to Save the Elephants. Act now and stand up in some small way for kindness and intelligence—two things this world could use a little bit more of.

Philip Stead

Boat #59, Portugal

2011-04-01T13:01:00.002-04:00

Boat #60, France (and the Big Blue Boat too!)

2011-03-31T07:58:00.001-04:00

My favorite thing about doing this blog is when I scan boat, enlarge it, and then find something I'd never noticed before—in this case, the tiny sailboat. It reminds me of my opening illustration for Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat.

Boat #61, Gone Fishin' in El Salvador

2011-03-30T10:57:00.002-04:00

Boat #62, Denmark

2011-03-29T07:49:00.000-04:00

Boat #63, Argentina

2011-03-28T07:48:00.000-04:00

Boat #64, Chile

2011-03-27T16:46:00.001-04:00

Boat #65, Grenada

2011-03-26T07:38:00.000-04:00

Boat #66, USSR

2011-03-25T07:54:00.001-04:00

Boat #67, Israel

2011-03-24T07:53:00.000-04:00

Boat #68, Denmark

2011-03-23T07:52:00.000-04:00

Boat #69, Denmark

2011-03-22T07:51:00.000-04:00

Boat #70, Burma

2011-03-21T07:50:00.000-04:00

Boat #71, Argentina

2011-03-20T07:49:00.000-04:00

Boat #72, Portugal

2011-03-19T08:47:00.001-04:00

Boat #73, Guadeloupe

2011-03-18T13:46:00.002-04:00

Boat #74, French West Africa

2011-03-17T07:53:00.000-04:00

French West Africa was a federation of colonies existing from 1895–1958. The federation included the modern day countries of Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Niger.

Boat #75, USSR

2011-03-16T08:51:00.000-04:00

Man, I sure am glad that winter's almost over. Unfortunately for these guys they seem to have just stumbled on it.

Boat #76, Chile

2011-03-15T08:06:00.000-04:00

Here we have Lake Villarrica with the Villarrica Volcano in the background, one of the 10 most active volcanoes in the world.

Boat #77, Martinique

2011-03-14T08:05:00.000-04:00

Boat #78, Tuvalu

2011-03-13T08:03:00.000-04:00

Boat #79, Turkey

2011-03-12T09:13:00.000-05:00

Boat #80, Jersey

2011-03-11T09:16:00.000-05:00

Port Egmont was the first British settlement in the Falkland Islands. The settlement was established in 1765. The expedition left behind a watering hole and a vegetable garden. Sounds pleasant, no?

Boat #81, New Zealand

2011-03-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

Boat #82, USSR

2011-03-09T09:14:00.000-05:00

Now that's a stamp!

Boat(s) #83, Ice Sailing in Madison, Wisconsin

2011-03-08T09:26:00.001-05:00

Yes, those are sail boats on a frozen lake. This weekend Erin and I had the pleasure of visiting Madison, Wisconsin where, apparently, people are not deterred from their favorite water sports by a little cold weather. Very inspiring. I was in Madison to receive the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award for the text of A Sick Day for Amos McGee. The Charlotte Zolotow Award winner this year was The Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan. The award is given out annually by the Cooperative Children's Book Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. The librarians at the CCBC could not possibly have been kinder and more gracious with their time. Madison is a great town populated by great people (governors and legislators notwithstanding). Head on over to Erin's blog if you'd like to hear a little more about the weekend. Meanwhile, happy ice sailing Madisonites (or is it Madisonians?).

Boat #84, Hawaii

2011-03-07T09:12:00.000-05:00

Boat #85, British Virgin Islands

2011-03-06T07:49:00.000-05:00

Boat #86, Greece

2011-03-05T07:46:00.000-05:00

You can fit a lot of action into a one inch postage stamp. It's funny to imagine that this battle was drawn at actual size. Tiny men storming a tiny ship.

Boat #87, Greece

2011-03-04T07:45:00.001-05:00

Boat #88, USSR

2011-03-03T09:26:00.000-05:00

Boat #89, Turks and Caicos

2011-03-02T08:25:00.000-05:00

Boat #90, Turks and Caicos

2011-03-01T10:17:00.000-05:00

Well, February is done, and thank goodness for that. Michigan February could be bottled and sold to people looking to sow misery and ill will in the world. But though the dreaded month has ended it may take me a while yet to return to normal, healthy levels of joy, happiness and general enthusiasm. I'm sure a couple days sailing in Turks and Caicos can't hurt.

Boat #91, St. Pierre and Miquelon

2011-02-28T08:01:00.000-05:00

Boat #92, St. Helena

2011-02-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Boat #93, Laos

2011-02-26T02:46:00.001-05:00

Boat #94, Czechoslovakia

2011-02-25T02:45:00.000-05:00

Boat #95, Romania

2011-02-24T02:44:00.000-05:00