(3) YA Great Explorers of the World series. Examining the lives of well-known explorers, these biographies go beyond to offer information about the times in which the men lived; events leading up to and surrounding their travels; and the impact of their explorations on the world. The volumes are well illustrated with photos, archival art, and maps. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Explorers of the World titles: Leif Eriksson, Captain Cook, Cortés, Vasco Da Gama, Lewis and Clark, and Pizarro.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Great Explorations series. Six explorers--including three Spanish conquistadors--are profiled alongside the lands and peoples they discovered and subjugated. Written in a colloquial style, several of the titles skate over the effects the Europeans' conquests had on the native populations, but for the most part these books are thorough. All six titles contain good-quality reproductions. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Great Explorations titles: Vasco da Gama, Zebulon Pike, Samuel de Champlain, Francisco Pizarro, Juan Ponce de León, and Vasco Nuñez de Balboa.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 4-6 Great Explorers series. Illustrated by Tom McNeely. Lush watercolor illustrations and a regal design add drama to the story of Vasco da Gama's voyage in 1497 from Portugal to India and back again. Goodman tells the story with flair and balance, emphasizing the bravery and resilience of da Gama and his crew without failing to address his use of violence to gain control of the competitive spice trade. Ind.

Reviewer: Mary R. Holt

(4) 4-6 Explorers and Exploration series. Illustrated by Patrick O'Brien. These simplified accounts of European explorers are told from a European perspective, though the native peoples they encountered and sometimes conquered are accurately depicted. The texts are generally choppy, but report writers will find them informative. Each book has a clear map, reprints of old color pictures, some new illustrations, a list of key events in the explorer's century, and a time line of important events in his life. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian