Barton, Chris.
DAZZLE SHIPS : WORLD WAR I AND THE ART OF CONFUSION
Minneapolis, MN : Millbrook Press, 2017
IL 3-6
ISBN 9781512451108

During World War I, Britain and their allies fight bravely against Germany, yet as an island they are vulnerable, surrounded by sea. German submarines attack and sink their ships. By 1917, ships that aren’t even battleships are torpedoed. England can’t survive these attacks much longer; food is running out. After many failed ideas such as training sea gulls, sea lions, and swimmers to spot subs, and smash their periscopes, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve lieutenant-commander Norman Wilkinson has a brilliant idea. Knowing it’s impossible to paint a ship so it’s invisible, he decides to paint battleships ultra-visible, breaking up the ship’s form, confusing the enemy below about which direction she is headed. The new term dazzle camouflage was used for this ship disguise, and it worked! During the entire war 1,256 American battleships, and 3,000 British ships were disguised as Dazzle Ships. This incredible true story is illustrated with breathtakingly beautiful illustrations that bring Dazzle Ships to life, along with iconic images throughout, representing the history occurring in both Britain and the United States during this time. (Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award 2019-2020)