The tale of the giant white whale immortalized in Herman Melville's classic 1851 novel was inspired by horrifying real events: the shipwreck of a whaling boat and the desperate efforts of its twenty-man crew to survive. With accessible text and vivid full-color imagery, this engrossing volume investigates both the legend and the true story behind Moby Dick. Entertaining fast facts and insightful sidebars will keep elementary-level readers engaged throughout. A Further Reading list with books and websites encourages further exploration.