(3) 4-6 Primary Source Explorers series. These introductory texts emphasize primary sources in the telling of history. Photographs of the modern-day locations, historical documents, maps, and paintings enhance the texts, which detail each individual's voyages, his place in the age of exploration, and broader historical context. Frequent questions encourage readers to make modern connections and question the morality of the explorer's choices. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Primary Source Explorers titles: A Journey with Christopher Columbus, A Journey with Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, A Journey with Hernán Cortés, A Journey with Sieur de La Salle, A Journey with Henry Hudson, and A Journey with Juan Ponce de León.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff. Adapted from Mann's adult book, this is an extensive explanation of the ecological convulsion known as the Columbian Exchange that occurred among the continents after Columbus's successful voyage; particular focus is on the worldwide historical impact of foods and tobacco, industrial products (e.g., rubber, silver), and human migration and enslavement. Maps, drawings, and photographs enhance this fascinating account of the far-reaching exchanges. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Good Question! series. This book chronicles the history of Columbus's first voyage to the New World with pertinent questions and succinct but thoughtful answers. Berne answers such questions as "What was life like aboard the ships?"; "How did Columbus treat the native people?"; and "How did Columbus change the world?"; giving young readers insight into Columbus's exploits. Maps and full-page illustrations enhance the readable text. Timeline.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 What Would You Do? series. This volume places young readers at the heart of the events and dilemmas of Columbus's "adventure." Sections in simple, conversational language promote discussion by alternating "What Would You Do?" questions (which are more sophisticated than the main text) with "What Really Happened." Columbus's accomplishments and misdeeds are both explored. Maps and archival images add to the presentation. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Holidays & Heroes series. Illustrated by Thomas Sperling. This series highlights three U.S. holidays, providing information about their origins and reasons for continued celebration. Abbreviated biographies of Columbus (Columbus) and Washington and Lincoln (Presidents') are included; Veterans succinctly describes the five branches of the U.S. military and explains how Armistice Day was enlarged in 1954 to "honor all veterans, living or dead." Photographs and drawings accompany the lackluster texts. Review covers these Holidays & Heroes titles: Let's Celebrate Columbus Day, Let's Celebrate Presidents' Day, and Let's Celebrate Veterans Day.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Fact Finders: Perspectives on History series. "Brilliant sailor" or "villain"--"Which perspective is true?" The book chronicles Columbus's early aspirations, voyages, discoveries, and legacies while touching on both his achievements and his transgressions throughout. Though some meaty information is buried in sidebars or tiny illustration captions, there's lots of solid history here, and the perspective-challenging objective is successful. Common Core critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) YA Loosely anchored to its historical setting, this tale follows Baltasar as he comes to terms with his complex religious and ethnic ancestry, learns to conjure, searches for his father, and accompanies Columbus to the Americas, all while fleeing the Inquisition. Although Mlawski's attempt to demonstrate the era's cultural complexity is admirable, too many elements compete for prominence in this multicultural fantasy.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Great Explorers series. Each title successfully establishes historical setting, current knowledge, and unanswered questions, setting the stage for profiling the featured explorer. Stock photographs, maps, and archival images combine with dry texts to provide adequate, straightforward biographies of these men and the legacies that defined their work, whether it was trading with the East, mapping the world, or studying the depths of the ocean. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Explorers titles: Captain Cook, Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus, and Jacques Cousteau.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Infinity Ring series. This series (which has an online component) focuses on history nerd Dak, physics-obsessed Sera, and polyglot Riq as they travel through time to repair history. Mutiny focuses on Columbus's voyage; the writing is stilted and Native Americans are ignored. Divide, set in medieval Paris, appears to be more accurate, though the writing is formulaic. Fans of the 39 Clues books will be clamoring for this read-alike.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) 4-6 Columbus was a gifted navigator, but his mistreatment of Native peoples and his obsession with a western trade route to Asia and the riches and notoriety it would bring became his downfall. Highly detailed illustrations rendered in ink on marble papers with gold overlay and decorative borders provide a majestic backdrop for this lengthy but thoughtful picture-book biography.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA History of Exploration series. In these information-rich volumes, each double-page spread contains one short paragraph of text on the title subject and several illustrations with extensive captions. Pictures range from historical paintings to maps and geographical sites to photographs of artifacts. The format is eye-catching, but the small font and crowded pages are challenging to navigate. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these History of Exploration titles: Captain Cook & His Exploration of the Pacific, Columbus & the Renaissance Explorers, Drake & the Elizabethan Explorers, Exploration of Africa, Exploration of North America, and Magellan & the Americas.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Days of Change series. This account of Columbus's arrival is unromanticized and well contextualized. Emphasis is placed on the ships' harrowing journey along with the troubles Columbus had with his Spanish benefactors and the havoc he created in the "New World." Clean design, including many art reproductions and occasional sidebars, makes the information easy to access. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA Great Explorers of the World series. Going above and beyond biographical information about its subject, each book offers readers a glimpse of the historical times, events leading up to and surrounding the men's 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: Columbus, Marco Polo, and Henry Hudson.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Sterling Biographies series. Attractive layouts and numerous reproductions of photos, paintings, documents, etc. (e.g., Lewis's pre-expedition shopping list) make for easy-to-approach biographies of four famous explorers. The writing is solid, with sidebars that flesh out historical contexts and important contemporaries. Columbus and Henson give personal portraits; Lewis & Clark reads more like a history of the expedition. Source notes, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sterling Biographies titles: Christopher Columbus, Lewis & Clark, and Matthew Henson.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 4-6 Alec Flint, Super Sleuth series. Illustrated by C. B. Canga. Alec's class is studying Christopher Columbus. An exhibit at the local museum would help, but it, and Alec's art teacher, have gone missing. Following in his police officer father's footsteps, Alec and his partner Gina are on the case. Smartly combining a crime drama with some American history, this book succeeds in being both entertaining and informative.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) K-3 Buddy Books: Holidays series. Following a short description of the featured holiday, Murray discusses its origin, its evolution, and the way it is celebrated today. The writing is simple and straightforward, but bolded key words are not always defined in the text, leading to disruptive detours to the glossary. Photos appear throughout the generally clean layouts. Columbus and King contain timelines. Ind. Review includes these Buddy Books: Holidays titles: Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Columbus Day, Independence Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Presidents' Day.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Explorers! series. Each of the books in this series provides some biographical information, but the focus is on the exploration, the time period, and the geography. The choppy text is illustrated with archival pictures and maps. The illustrations make the fairly dry texts somewhat more inviting, but their captions are sometimes confusing. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Explorers! titles: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernán Cortés, and Lewis and Clark.]

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Historical Biographies series. These brief, formulaic books about Columbus's voyages and discovery of the New World (although he never admitted that he hadn't found the Indies) and de Soto's service in Panama and Nicaragua and his exploration of Florida provide a good starting point for report writers. The books are liberally illustrated with reproductions and maps. Pronunciation guide, reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Historical Biographies titles: Christopher Columbus and Hernando de Soto.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 In World History series. Based on substantial sources, the books in this series offer balanced appraisals of their subjects' contributions, as well as the controversies that their activities engendered (Cook's careful eighteenth-century explorations of the Pacific; de Soto's aggressive search for gold in North America; and Columbus's explorations, also gold-driven, for Spain). Each book contains dark black-and-white period prints and a timeline. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: Captain Cook Explores the Pacific in World History, Hernando de Soto and the Spanish Search for Gold in World History, Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration in World History.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(2) YA Translated by Elizabeth D. Crawford. This is a gritty, intense story of a highly charged relationship between Christopher Columbus and sixteen-year-old Esther, a Jewish refugee from the Inquisition who comes aboard the Santa María disguised as a Christian ship's boy named Pedro. Esther's helpless passion for the older man is convincingly nuanced; the fully realized setting, flavorful dialogue, and multiple intrigues are well executed.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2001