2007, November, The Horn Book, Starred Review:

“It’s 1683, and a sheltered New England harbor looks like a promising place to settle. A small group of colonists do, and a community is born. Through aseries of double-page spreads, we see the prototypical town of Tuckanucket grow, its fortunes tied to the whaling trade. At first, people kill and usethe whales that have drifted to shore; later, they go to sea to hunt them, first right whales and then, more ambitiously, the much larger and further-out-to-sea sperm whales and bowheads. We see allied industries grow, shipsmithing, candleworks, milling – and, two centuries later, tourism. As Tuckanucket endures storms, fire, war, and the discovery of petroleum, we spot the resulting changes in the waterfront town (later city), depicted in precisely detailed ink and crayon pictures. Each double spread-spread page is drawn from the same bird’s-eye perspective, allowing readers to easily spot both landmarks and changes; additional interspersed pages offer textual and pictorial elaboration of technical processes (such as ropemaking) and ebbing-and-flowing fortunes. The Fosters, father and son, have elegantly synthesized a tremendous amount of information into a beguiling format. R.S.”

2007, September, Kirkus Reviews:

“The story of the fictional New England town of Tuckanucket from 1683 to the present entwines story threads of whaling and the growth of the new nation. The appealing format of this volume, reminiscent of David Macaulay and Arthur Geisert's best work, blends large-scale colorful art and an abundance of information. When residents of Tuckanucket realize that their future is on the sea, not on the farm, the consequent growth of their town and the whaling industry, portrayed in depth, makes fascinating reading. The Fosters present the contributions of Native Americans and African-Americans in a forthright work with many possible curricular connections. A list of websites would have been useful, as would a guide to other books on the subject for young readers, such as Jim Murphy's Gone A-Whaling (1998) and Patricia and Fredrick McKissack's Black Hands, White Sails (1999), but this may be the most interesting work on the subject to date. (Nonfiction. 9-14)”

2007, November, Eric Jay Dolin, best-selling author of Leviathan, The History of American Whaling:

“A great book -- beautiful, informative, and fun. Whale Port is a treat for anyone, young or old, interested in whaling and the role it played in American history. Through the fictional village of Tuckanucket, Mark and Gerald Foster take you on a wonderful, illustrated tour of the growing pains, and the triumphs and tragedies of a whaling town as it tries to maneuver through the powerful tides and currents of history, while remaining literally and figuratively afloat. The drawings are excellent, the story is dramatic and compelling, and the added background information at the bottom of each page makes the book that much richer. My eight year old son loves the book, and so do I. I highly recommend Whale Port to anyone who is fascinated by America's whaling heritage -- it is particularly appropriate for 8 to 14 year olds.”

2007, October, Colleen Mondor, author, reviewer, inEclectica Online Magazine:

“Mark Foster takes on a much bigger view of history with his fascinating look at the history of one town and how it developed over the centuries, in WhalePort. Based on the history of several New England towns, Foster has created the fictional village of Tuckanucket, founded in1683 by a group of English colonists. Over time it evolves into a whaling port and Foster carefully explains each change in the way the people live along the way. The text is easy to follow and full of fascinating bits of all sorts of cultural, social and maritime history. What really puts Whale Port over the top though is Gerald Foster's incredibly detailed illustrations. He provides cross sections of houses and ships that allow readers to see inside and further appreciate the topics discussed in the text. This is one of those occasions where the author and illustrator (a father and son team) were in perfect synergy and its shows on each and every page.

I'll be honest with you; this is the kind of history book that I really love. There is a lot of information here but Foster shares it in a personal way that is found in the best kind of adult historic fiction. Through storms and fires, slavery and abolition, the people of Tuckanucket change and grow in order to keep their town alive. The Fosters have done some truly excellent work here and this a book that should be considered a reference for anyone—of any age- interested in America's whaling history.”

2007 October , School Library Journal:

“Gr 4-8. The Fosters present the history of a fictitious whaling town, from its founding in 1683 to its revival as a modern-day coastal city. After describing the villagers’ discovery of beached whales and their uses for the oil and baleen, the book traces the beginnings and growth of the whaling industry and its importance to the development of New England towns. Tuckanucket expanded and prospered through the years, overcoming setbacks including war and a devastating fire. When whaling ended in the early 1900s, much of the waterfront was abandoned, until residents took charge, revitalizing the area by creating a museum and offering whale-watching trips. The text reads smoothly and is packed with information. The fine pen-and-watercolor scenes are perfectly suited to the subject matter and successfully depict each era. Cutaway views show the insides of buildings and illustrate each structure’s purpose. The roles of specialized workers are fully described, and detailed captions provide explanations of procedures such as constructing an oil cask, making rope, and processing a whale. The time-line format is appealing, and the narrative gives a real sense of the changes New England whaling ports have faced through the years and the diverse individuals who helped build them. This handsome title is an excellent choice for both curricular and recreational use.”–Lynne Mattern, Robert Seaman School, Jericho, NY

2007, August, Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In The Heart of the Sea, Sea of Glory, Mayflower

“It's a wonderfully detailed and elegantly thought-out recreation of the historical life of a New England whaling village.”

2008, April, Sea Classics Magazine, Rod Redman:

“Although clearly intended as a children's book there is so little history available today about America's whaling industry that we felt this book should be brought to our reader's attention as it is also an excellent gift item for young, or old. The authors, both professional historians, are a father and son team who have long shared a fascination with whales and whaling. By combining their talents into a compelling easy-to- read style about Tuckanucket, a fictional 19th Century whaling village, they manage to cleverly recreate an absorbing story about men, ships and society in a time in history when whale oil was the buzz word of an entire era of seafaring. Discussing every facet of life at sea and in port from rowdy sailors' taverns to the functioning of rigger's lofts and the intricacies of re-sheathing a whaler's hull, this compelling glimpse into a bygone era is at once entertaining, enlightening and informative, a rare treat indeed. A fun story well told, all of Whale Port's fiction is underwritten by the honesty of the research incorporated into its conception.”

2008, April Carolyn Mott Ford, children’s author, poet, essayist (Barns and Noble):

“The fictional village of Tuckanucket comes alive as the author follows the history of the whaling town from 1683, when English colonists settled there, to modern days and the establishment of a museum and a thriving whale-watching business. The story is told primarily through the experiences of the Taber family who live in the area through good times and bad. Young students will learn much about the village and the whaling business and they will also gain an understanding of how circumstances change and how folks adjust and create new opportunities. This book includes the general history of the period and shows how the lives of residents of Tuckanucket are changed as petroleum replaces whale oil as a source of energy. The architectural backgrounds of both author and illustrator shine through in the detailed text and pictures. The illustrations will amuse and educate kids as they read this story with interest.”

Winter 2008, recommended by Greg Leitich Smith, children’s author of Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo and Tofu and T. Rex, and, with Cynthia Leitich Smith, Santa Knows:

“In this 64-page picture book, the father and son Fosters explore the history of New England whaling through the fictional town of Tuckanucket, from the earliest European settlers through modern re-gentrification. The book is structured to include an overarching narrative, with breakouts explaining each picture in greater depth. The drawings themselves are incredibly detailed, including many cutaways and perspectives. A fascinating look at a now-defunct era in the history of America and technology. Ages 10-up.”

2008, January, Nancy Garhan Attebury, children’s author (Barnes and Noble):

“This comprehensive tale traces the history of whaling in the New England colonies from 1663-1880. Extensive research on the author's part has produced a quality text about whaling methods and life in a whaling town. The story is successful in part because it is based on the fictional whale port of Tuckanucket and centered on a make-believe Taber family. In addition, the story works because it brings to life everyday happenings of the time period such as shipbuilding, trading, blacksmithing, candle making, and more. Details about hardship in the settlement, such as fire and flooding are intertwined with successful whale hunts and history of the new colonies. Readers can glean an immense amount of information from the text and the detailed, labeled illustrations. Coverage of such a large time period does necessitate leaving out some years. One awkward leap comes with news of the War of 1812 followed by a jump to 1820. If the book is used in the classroom, teachers can fill in the "between" years with other sources. Still, the book is enriching enough to be enjoyed outside the classroom setting. Sidebars add many facts to the already-informative text.”

2008, January, Toledo Blade, Barbara Britsch, professor emeritus, Lourdes College, "Picture books tell tales to warm winter nights":

“Here is an engaging pictorial story of an imaginary New England town, Tuckanucket, based on Nantucket, New Bedford, and other early whaling centers, from its 17th century beginning to today. Finely detailed, full-page illustrations let the reader walk along its streets, experiencing changes through the centuries. Both local industry and far-away whaling ships come alive in this thoughtful account of a vital early American industry.”

2008, January, South Sound Book Review Council (SSBRC), Lacey, WA

“Every once in awhile there is a book that displays history in a unique way... Using the beautifully detailed drawings the illustrator portrays each era of growth and development. .. The reader spent hours looking at each drawing and learning many of the nautical terms used in this book. .. Reluctant readers will find this fascinating and will learn much even with limited reading ability. Excellent!”
R* = Highly Recommended

2007, December, Boston Sunday Globe, Shelf Lifeby Jan Gardner -"Deep subject":

“More than 150 years after Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" was published, whaling remains a viable subject for writers. .. For younger audiences, [Eric Jay] Dolin and his 8-year-old son recommend "Whale Port" (Houghton Mifflin), by Mark Foster, with illustrations by his father, Gerald Foster, in which an encyclopedic command of whaling is packed into a story about a fictional port much like New Bedford.”

2007, December , Korean publishing co. purchases rights to Whale Port.

2007, November, Eight Cousins, Quality Books for Youth, Falmouth, MA, chooses Whale Port as one of their 2007 Picks of the Year for ages 9, 10, and 11.

2007, Fall, The Book Shop of Beverly Farms, Beverly Farms. MA:

“Whale Port… is filled with information and detailed illustrations that will satisfy the most curious future marine biologist!”

2007, October, By invitation Whale Port is presented at the International Whaling History Symposium, New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA

October 11, 2007, Rob Shearer, Publisher, Greenleaf Press, North Lebanon, TN:

“This wonderful book, in the style of detailed drawings made popular by David Macaulay, traces the history of Tuckanucket from its founding in 1683 through the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. It is fascinating to see how the style of the houses changed, how the look of the waterfront was different, and how the design of ships evolved.
This book will help readers of all ages understand the culture and economy of New England.”

2007, October, Baker Books, Dartmouth, MA, Children's staff Picks:

“Combining elements of A Street Through Time, Amazing Cross-Sections, and Macauley’s Cathedral, this visually engrossing picture book immerses the reader in the life story of a New England whaling town. Colorized pen and ink drawings bring to life the various tasks and trades of a small coastal encampment that grows from village to city on the wealth of whale oil. The town depicted is a fictional one, merging the histories of Nantucket and New Bedford, but the vignettes breathe life into the very real spaces that inspired them. Detail’s the thing in books like this, and Foster does not disappoint, peopling his gull’s-eye views of “Tuckanucket" with coopers and blacksmiths, merchants and reveling sailors, all going about their lives in a maritime economy. The drawings not only depict progress and the passage of time, but the changes (not always for the better) and decay that are part of any cycle of life. The result is an important piece of American history seen anew through a clever layout and a narrative scope that spans generations.”