Who Was First? Discovering the Americas
Russell Freedman; ages 11 and up
Historian Russell Freeman explores the various claims to the "discovery" of the American continents. Every U.S. school child knows the story of Columbus, but what about the Chinese explorer, Zheng He? This lavishly illustrated volume traces explorers' journeys with archival maps, charts, and timelines. Freeman discusses the Native Americans, from the ancients to the pre-Columbian using archeological data and research. Families will enjoy discussing the competing theories.
Russell Freedman; ages 11 and up
Historian Russell Freeman explores the various claims to the "discovery" of the American continents. Every U.S. school child knows the story of Columbus, but what about the Chinese explorer, Zheng He? This lavishly illustrated volume traces explorers' journeys with archival maps, charts, and timelines. Freeman discusses the Native Americans, from the ancients to the pre-Columbian using archeological data and research. Families will enjoy discussing the competing theories.
Explorers of North America
by Christine Taylor-Butler; ages 8 and up
Europeans explored America for hundreds of years. What were they looking for? What is the Northwest Passage? This easy to read volume is good overview to think about why explorers came to the Americas. Can we figure out what their lives were like in their homelands and what compelled them to embark on these treacherous journeys into the unknown? Government structures, religion, and economics are simplified to help children develop their understanding of these complex issues.
by Christine Taylor-Butler; ages 8 and up
Europeans explored America for hundreds of years. What were they looking for? What is the Northwest Passage? This easy to read volume is good overview to think about why explorers came to the Americas. Can we figure out what their lives were like in their homelands and what compelled them to embark on these treacherous journeys into the unknown? Government structures, religion, and economics are simplified to help children develop their understanding of these complex issues.
River of Dreams: The Story of the Hudson River
written and illustrated by Hudson Talbott; ages 6 and up
Take a very personal look at the river that played its part in colonization of America. From Manhattan Island to the north beginning with the Indian peoples who held stewardship of the lands and waters before the arrival of Europeans like Henry Hudson. The double-page spread paintings interweaved with symbolic detail tell the story in a timeline fashion as we witness the development of the shoreline over the years.
written and illustrated by Hudson Talbott; ages 6 and up
Take a very personal look at the river that played its part in colonization of America. From Manhattan Island to the north beginning with the Indian peoples who held stewardship of the lands and waters before the arrival of Europeans like Henry Hudson. The double-page spread paintings interweaved with symbolic detail tell the story in a timeline fashion as we witness the development of the shoreline over the years.
Famous Explorers
by Garnet Jackson, illustrated by Dan Brown; ages 6 and up
This is a collection of short biographies in an easy-to-read format that centers on the continent of North America. The books recounts the stories of Christopher Columbus; the Frenchman Jacques Cartier, who, in search of a Northwest passage to Asia, arrived in what is now Canada. Also included are Henry Hudson, an Englishman who landed at the mouth of the Hudson River; Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who were commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the American West.
by Garnet Jackson, illustrated by Dan Brown; ages 6 and up
This is a collection of short biographies in an easy-to-read format that centers on the continent of North America. The books recounts the stories of Christopher Columbus; the Frenchman Jacques Cartier, who, in search of a Northwest passage to Asia, arrived in what is now Canada. Also included are Henry Hudson, an Englishman who landed at the mouth of the Hudson River; Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who were commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the American West.
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
written and illustrated by Brian Floca; ages 7 and up
In detailed drawings and spare language, Floca captures the journey of the three astronauts who manned Apollo 11. The full pages give the reader a "you-are-there" feeling as we follow them through the countdown, blast-off, the cramped spacecraft interiors to the moment Neil Armstrong took that historic step on the moon. The book captures the feelings of excitement and terror as these three brave astronauts undertook their historic spaceflight.
written and illustrated by Brian Floca; ages 7 and up
In detailed drawings and spare language, Floca captures the journey of the three astronauts who manned Apollo 11. The full pages give the reader a "you-are-there" feeling as we follow them through the countdown, blast-off, the cramped spacecraft interiors to the moment Neil Armstrong took that historic step on the moon. The book captures the feelings of excitement and terror as these three brave astronauts undertook their historic spaceflight.
They Call Me Sacagawea
by Joyce Badgley Hunsaker; ages 8 and up
In this fictionalized account, Lewis and Clark would have failed if not for the work of Sacagawea, their teenage Shoshone interpreter. Sacagawea had the knowledge of the land and of various Native American peoples to guide, negotiate, and support this daring expedition. With her baby strapped to a cradleboard, she faced all the hardships of the journey. This volume draws on the oral tradition of the Shoshone people as well as scholarly research to present an unforgettable profile of an underappreciated American hero.
by Joyce Badgley Hunsaker; ages 8 and up
In this fictionalized account, Lewis and Clark would have failed if not for the work of Sacagawea, their teenage Shoshone interpreter. Sacagawea had the knowledge of the land and of various Native American peoples to guide, negotiate, and support this daring expedition. With her baby strapped to a cradleboard, she faced all the hardships of the journey. This volume draws on the oral tradition of the Shoshone people as well as scholarly research to present an unforgettable profile of an underappreciated American hero.
Lewis and Clark for Kids: Their Journey of Discovery with 21 Activities
by Janis Herbert; ages 10 and up
This comprehensive volume not only gives an overview of the adventurous journey of Lewis and William, it presents Jefferson's vision of documenting the land, the plants, and the animals that make up the diverse environments of the North American continent. The text presents 21 activities that families can do together to enhance learning by submerging children in the historic world. Children can identify and preserve plants, make Great Plains Stew or sewing up moccasins.
by Janis Herbert; ages 10 and up
This comprehensive volume not only gives an overview of the adventurous journey of Lewis and William, it presents Jefferson's vision of documenting the land, the plants, and the animals that make up the diverse environments of the North American continent. The text presents 21 activities that families can do together to enhance learning by submerging children in the historic world. Children can identify and preserve plants, make Great Plains Stew or sewing up moccasins.
The Discovery of the Americas
by Betsy Maestro, illustrated by Giulio Maestro; ages 8 and up
The Maestros begin this extensively illustrated overview with the theory of the land bridge between Asia and North America, when thousands of years ago small groups of nomadic peoples walked across the "bridge." These Stone Age hunters were the first settlers of the New World. The Maestros depict the life of the early settlers with drawings of archeological finds to show the similarity between the peoples of the old world and new. A useful table of dates is included.
by Betsy Maestro, illustrated by Giulio Maestro; ages 8 and up
The Maestros begin this extensively illustrated overview with the theory of the land bridge between Asia and North America, when thousands of years ago small groups of nomadic peoples walked across the "bridge." These Stone Age hunters were the first settlers of the New World. The Maestros depict the life of the early settlers with drawings of archeological finds to show the similarity between the peoples of the old world and new. A useful table of dates is included.
Cultures Collide: Native Americans and Europeans 1492-1700
by Ann Rossi; ages 10 and up
This slim volume describes the differing cultures of the native peoples that European explorers and conquerors experienced. The Taino grew tobacco, corn, and yams and lived in a hot climate and wore very few clothes. Columbus and his men had never seen the crops and they wore layer upon layer of clothes. Rossi provides short sketches of the clashes in values between the Aztecs and the Spanish conquistadors, the Pilgrims and the Indians who lived in Massachusetts, and how the introduction of horses by the Spaniards changed the way of life for the Cree.
by Ann Rossi; ages 10 and up
This slim volume describes the differing cultures of the native peoples that European explorers and conquerors experienced. The Taino grew tobacco, corn, and yams and lived in a hot climate and wore very few clothes. Columbus and his men had never seen the crops and they wore layer upon layer of clothes. Rossi provides short sketches of the clashes in values between the Aztecs and the Spanish conquistadors, the Pilgrims and the Indians who lived in Massachusetts, and how the introduction of horses by the Spaniards changed the way of life for the Cree.
Amelia Earhart: Free in the Skies
by Robert Burliegh, illustrated by Bill Wylie; ages 7 and up
In the early 1900s, woman of a certain class in the United States were expected to stay in the home and take care of the house and children. They certainly did not entertain thoughts of piloting an airplane. When Amelia Earhart was young she was fascinated by flying machines and longed to be up in the air. In this graphic-format biography we see how Amelia was able to overcome the prejudices of the time by piloting experimental aircraft, flying long distances, and even flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean becoming in the process a genuine American hero.
by Robert Burliegh, illustrated by Bill Wylie; ages 7 and up
In the early 1900s, woman of a certain class in the United States were expected to stay in the home and take care of the house and children. They certainly did not entertain thoughts of piloting an airplane. When Amelia Earhart was young she was fascinated by flying machines and longed to be up in the air. In this graphic-format biography we see how Amelia was able to overcome the prejudices of the time by piloting experimental aircraft, flying long distances, and even flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean becoming in the process a genuine American hero.
Keep On! The Story of Mathew Henson, Co-Discoverer of the North Pole
by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Stephen Alcorn; ages 8 and up
In lyrical language we read the true story of the African American who traveled side by side with Robert E. Peary to explore the North Pole. Henson traveled to Greenland and became part of the Inuit community. They taught him their language, how to build and run a dogsled, and how to survive in the unrelenting dark and cold. It was Henson and his Inuit mentors who made it possible for Peary to reach the North Pole.
by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Stephen Alcorn; ages 8 and up
In lyrical language we read the true story of the African American who traveled side by side with Robert E. Peary to explore the North Pole. Henson traveled to Greenland and became part of the Inuit community. They taught him their language, how to build and run a dogsled, and how to survive in the unrelenting dark and cold. It was Henson and his Inuit mentors who made it possible for Peary to reach the North Pole.
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