The Little Ships of Dunkirk by Christian Brann, published by Collectors' Books at £24.50 ISBN 0 946604 02 9 In late May and early June 1939 the name of a small Flanders port became a household word, a name which even now, almost exactly 50 years later, still evokes memories and stirs pride.

At that time some 700 small boats were formally chartered, or less formally commandeered, to take part in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of 385,000 troops from the shallow waters on the French- Belgian border near the town of Dunkirk, a task which was achieved under heavy fire. Around 100 of these gallant small boats perished during the evacuation and others have fallen by the wayside in the ensuing years. Yet a remarkable number survive to this day, many of them linked by the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, founded in the mid-1960s.

Raymond Baxter, now Chairman of the RNLI's Public Relations Committee, played a major part in founding this Association and. in addition to being largely responsible for the first Return to Dunkirk in 1965 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the evacuation, is Honorary Admiral and owns one of the surviving 'Little Ships'.

With the 50th anniversary of Operation Dynamo upon us Christian Brann, with the aid of two tenacious researchers, has produced a splendid volume to mark the occasion. In his beautifully produced and profusely illustrated book he has traced the history of many of the Little Ships which survived, and of those which did not.

Photographs of the boats as they are today and as they were at various times throughout their lives amplify the text to make The Little Ships of Dunkirk fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in old boats or this famous chapter in British history.

Of particular interest to many will be the involvement of RNLI lifeboats in Operation Dynamo, no less than 19 being described in some detail, with contemporary photographs and up-to-date ones of many survivors. The RNLI Celebrity Cook Book Compiled and published for the RNLI by the AA at £3.95 ISBN 0-86145-883-4 Not only does the RNLI Celebrity Cook Book provide some interesting thought for food, it also benefits the Institution's funds to the tune of some 15 per cent of the cover price of every copy sold.

Among its 160 pages food-lovers will find the favourite recipes of a wide variety of personalities, ranging from boxers ('Enry Cooper and Frank Bruno for example) through TV presenters (Terry Wogan and Anne Diamond), professional gourmets (Keith Floyd) and RNLI coxswains and helmsmen to President Bush.

The recipes themselves vary as much as their contributors and range from All American Clam Chowder (from the President, of course), through Chinese Chicken (from the well-travelled Alan Whicker) and Un Piot et des Pois au Fou (from the fluent French of John 'Bergerac' Nettles) to the Chip Buttie (from Terry Wogan, who else?).

All contributed their recipes to help the RNLI, so what better way to pass the long evenings of winter than working through the book from beginning to end? The Cook Book is available from booksellers, AA shops and from RNLI Sales. Also received..

GENERAL INTEREST Drama In The Air by John Beattie, published by Robson Books at £10.95 ISBN 0 86051 564 8 Previous books by this author include Lifeboats to the Rescue, and although this volume is concerned with aviation there are several mentions of the RNLI as a result of joint operations with helicopters.

Written in a very readable style and including many marine-orientated adventures.

A History of Selsey by Frances Mee, published by Phillimore at £8.95 ISBN 0 85033 672 4 Fascinating and well illustrated local history.

Many RNLI references throughout and potted history of the station in one chapter on the emergency services.

FOR THE YACHTSMAN Children Afloat by Pippa Driscoll, published by Fernhurst Books at £7.95 ISBN 0-906754-42-9 Practical advice on interesting children in sailing, safety and amusement on board, and even first aid and hygiene from the wife of the Royal Yachting Association's National Sailing Coach.

Generously illustrated and obviously based on long experience.

Day Skipper by William Barnes, published by Stanford Maritime at £8.95 ISBN 0-540-07433-0 Practical guide to the shore-based course of instruction leading to the Royal Yachting Association's Day Skipper qualification. Step by step instruction in navigation and seamanship with test questions. A good grounding for anyone going afloat in small boats.

Yachtmaster by Pat Langley Price and Philip Ouvry, published by Adlard Coles at £12.95 ISBN 0-229-11662-0 Revised and up-dated edition of popular handbook for shore-based section of RYA Yachtmaster Offshore. Coastal Skipper and Day Skipper certificates. Includes exercises and also useful extra-curicula material..