Beyond the Sea of Ice: The Voyages of Henry Hudson (Great Explorers) [Hardcover]

Joan Elizabeth Goodman (Author), Fernando Rangel (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Great Explorers

It was there. Henry Hudson was certain of it. Beyond the impenetrable fog and crushing ice of the North Atlantic lay the dream of kings, merchants and learned geographers - a passage to the Orient.

Sailing small wooden boats well above the arctic circle, guided by maps and charts that were based on rumor and hope as much as fact, surrounded by crews that shared neither his belief nor his commitment, Henry Hudson searched again and again for what was not there. In 1611, his mutinous crew set him adrift on the freezing waters of the bay that would one day bear his name.

Beyond the Sea of Ice is the story of Henry Hudson's four harrowing voyages of discovery. Bringing the skills of an experienced novelist to her first non-fiction book, author Joan Elizabeth Goodman creates an epic narrative of Henry Hudson's passionate quest. Fernando Rangel's paintings capture the icy beauty of the North Atlantic, the lushness of the new world and the cruelty and death that accompanied a voyage of discovery. Actual entries from the journals of each voyage bring the reader directly into life at sea in the 17th century.

(1999)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-The English explorer who searched in vain for a "speedy" route to China is brought to light. Readers will learn about Hudson the man, some details about each of his four voyages to North America, and what traveling by sea in the 17th century entailed. The prevailing cruelty inflicted on Native Americans may be upsetting to some readers, but Goodman has reported faithfully the encounters of the English with them. In an appended note, she explains that she used the word "Indian" to refer to the people of North America because that is the word the explorer used. Rangel's full-page, sometimes somber paintings are reminiscent of Marcia Sewall's work in the Pilgrims of Plimoth (Atheneum, 1986). Where Goodman's book shines is in the foldout maps and diagrams of the voyages and in the journal entries by Hudson and members of his crews. The endpapers, borders, and details such as the page numbers encapsulated in a rising sun symbol add to the book's visual appeal. When the next group of students with an assignment on explorers descends on the library, have this useful and attractive resource on hand.
Mollie Bynum, formerly at Chester Valley Elementary School, Anchorage, AK
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This attractive volume from the Great Explorers Books series begins with an introduction that sets the stage for the Age of Exploration and Hudson's part in it. A foldout map indicating the routes of Hudson's four voyages of exploration extends beyond the pages, making it accessible to readers as they follow his story through the text. Each chapter focuses on one voyage, including its sponsors, purpose, difficulties (sometimes calamities), and its outcome. Full-page, bordered paintings provide dramatic visions of events, while small ink drawings and maps are also effective. An introduction to Hudson's voyages that will spark readers' interest. Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Mikaya Press (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965049388
• ISBN-13: 978-0965049382
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very High Quality, August 25, 2009

By 

Lisa Munson Crews - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond the Sea of Ice: The Voyages of Henry Hudson (Great Explorers) (Hardcover)

This is a well written, engaging and thorough account of Henry Hudson's travels. The art is a good as the writing. We used it to lay the groundwork for our study of the history of Dutch influence on American civics and the colonies in North America. It's definitely worth spending part of your homeschooling budget on this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nicely illustrated. Good text, but more advanced than most illustrated books, August 5, 2011

By 

HeatherHH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Sea of Ice: The Voyages of Henry Hudson (Great Explorers) (Hardcover)

The main thing that I want to make clear in this review is the target audience. This is a nicely illustrated account of Hudson's voyages, but the fact that it is illustrated may mislead some into thinking it is for younger children. The reading level of this book is middle school; a Flesch-Kincaid grade level based on four paragraphs rated it as a 7th grade reading level. It's a very well-written text, with rich, descriptive language, but it is for more advanced readers. In fact, it is in-depth enough for high school students, as long as they won't be offended by the illustrations. The illustrations make the text more engaging, especially for the visual learner. My 9-year-old reads on a high school level and enjoys non-fiction. He said that he would rate this book as 4 1/2 stars.

Elementary children, especially upper elementary students, may be interested in this book as a read-aloud. I read it with my 7 1/2-year-old and 6-year-old in two parts, providing plenty of explanations as we went along. They were able to learn some from it, but it was definitely somewhat over their heads. I'm sure they will get much more from it in a few years, but we were studying the explorers now.

The text begins with a few pages of background, explaining the reason for searching for an ocean part to the Far East, the demand for spices, etc. There's a nice map of all of Hudson's Voyages. It folds out, and if left unfolded, it sticks out to the side and is a handy reference as you read through each of Hudson's voyages. Most 2-page spreads have several paragraphs of text and 1 full page color illustration, though some spreads only have a partial page map.

I would highly recommend this book for homeschooling families or parents of school children studying the explorers. For independent reading, it's best suited for middle school and high school age. For elementary students, it may be appropriate as a read-aloud.

4.0 out of 5 stars As Much A Story of Folly as Exploration, August 1, 2011

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond the Sea of Ice: The Voyages of Henry Hudson (Great Explorers) (Hardcover)

Henry Hudson falls into the second rank of great explorers. We know his name today principally because his last name graces the Hudson River and Hudson's Bay. Yet unlike the first tier of great explorers, Henry Hudson never really experienced success. The Northwest passage to Asia was not discovered until the Twentieth Century. Indeed Hudson ended his last expedition abandoned by his crew along the desolate shores of Hudson's Bay. "Beyond the Bay" is as much a story of folly as it is a tale of exploration. The book is well written and gives the reader a good sense of just how large and unknown America was at the time of Hudson's expeditions. Also of note, the author does not sugar coat Hudson's story. He is presented warts and all to young readers. In the final analysis this is a good book about a second tier explorer.