In 2008 Kindermann Verlag of Berlin published a beautiful version of "John Maynard" as part of their series, Poesie für Kinder. It is the text of the poem with engaging illustrations by Tobias Krejtschi.

Norman Barry kindly sent me a copy of the book. My granddaughter and I heartily recommend it. Norman also sent a copy of a review from Die Zeit that he translated into English. Follow the links below to see the review and an illustration from the book that accompanied the review.

A book review (in German) by Elisabeth Hohmeister from Die Zeit, No. 48, November 20, 2008

An illustration by Tobias Krejtschi that accompanied the review in Die Zeit, No. 48, November 20, 2008

An English translation by Norman Barry of the book review in Die Zeit, No. 48, November 20, 2008

In 2011, Alvin F. Oickle wrote Disaster on Lake Erie: The 1841 Wreck of the Steamship Erie, a book about the disaster that is commonly thought to have inspired the John Maynard legend. It was published by The History Press of Charleston, South Carolina, as part of its "Disaster" series. Alvin Oickle asked permission to use information from this website during the writing of his book, and we were happy to have him do so.

The History Press website describes the book this way:

On August 9, 1841, the steamship Erie, one of the most elegant and fastest sailing between Buffalo and Chicago, departed carrying 343 passengers. Many were Swiss and German immigrants, planning to start new lives in America's heartland -- most never made it. The Erie erupted in flames during the night, and despite the heroic efforts of the crew of the Dewitt Clinton, 254 lives were lost. As news of this disaster spread, internationally renowned artists and writers, including Horatio Alger Jr. and possibly James Fenimore Cooper, wrote about "John Maynard," a fictitious heroic helmsman. Historian Alvin F. Oickle's minute-by-minute account weaves together the tragedy of the immigrant families almost at journey's end, the legend of John Maynard that developed in the aftermath and the fury of a fire on an oceanlike lake.

You can read more about the book and the author at the Amazon.com website. For additional information on the book's 36-page "APPENDIX," read Norman Barry's research article entitled "A QUESTION OF FIGURES: NEW MATERIAL ON CALCULATING THE ERIE'S LOST AND SAVED."