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Columbus
On October 12, 1492, after five weeks of sailing on the Atlantic Ocean, a lookout aboard the Pinta, one of Christopher Columbus's three ships, spotted land. This biography tells the story of how Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean four times and claimed several Caribbean islands for the Spanish crown. Although Columbus was not the first European to discover the Americas, he established colonies and opened up the trade of products and ideas that would change the world forever.
* Reviews *
This is the latest book in the Great Explorers of the World series. It explains Columbus family background and how he came to be a sailor and an explorer. It explains how Columbus learned about the Canaries current and other facts that helped him develop the belief that he could sail to India. Columbus presented his proposition to many people, and he met many frustrating obstacles. In order to explain why Ferdinand and Isabella finally granted his request, Feinstein explains the challenges posed by the Spanish Muslims to the monarchs. Columbus first voyage is detailed, including his concern about mutiny and his changes to the sailing logs. The book explains how he kept two logs, one with the actual distance traveled and another that listed shorter mileage, so that the sailors would not become scared. The book does not withhold the fact that Columbus enslaved some of the Native Americans he found. It also details his arrest, his loss of titles and, later, the reinstatement of his wealth. Finally, the book explains why his discovery is still important to us today. The back of the book provides curious readers with additional resources from which they can learn more. This well-written, picture-laden book is a must-have for libraries., Children's Literature
RL
Grades
6-7 IL
Grades
6-12+ GRL
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