Brendan the Navigator [Hardcover]

Jean Fritz (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Recounts St. Brendan's life and voyage to North America long before the Vikings arrived.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; 4th impression edition (May 29, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399233261
• ISBN-13: 978-0399233265
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,105,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"The question I am most often asked," Jean Fritz says, "is how do I find my ideas? The answer is: I don't. Ideas find me. A character in history will suddenly step right out of the past and demand a book. Generally people don't bother to speak to me unless there's a good chance that I'll take them on." Throughout almost four decades of writing about history, Jean Fritz has taken on plenty of people, starting with George Washington in The Cabin Faced West (1958). Since then, her refreshingly informal historical biographies for children have been widely acclaimed as "unconventional," "good-humored," "witty," "irrepressible," and "extraordinary."In her role as biographer, Jean Fritz attempts to uncover the adventures and personalities behind each character she researches. "Once my character and I have reached an understanding," she explains, "then I begin the detective work--reading old books, old letters, old newspapers, and visiting the places where my subject lived. Often I turn up surprises and of course I pass these on." It is her penchant for making distant historical figures seem real that brings the characters to life and makes the biographies entertaining, informative, and filled with natural child appeal.An original and lively thinker, as well as an inspiration to children and adults, Jean Fritz is undeniably a master of her craft. She was awarded the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association, presented with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award by the American Library Association for her "substantial and lasting contribution to children's literature," and honored with the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, which was presented by the New York State Library Association for her body of work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Tale of the First European to Discover America, November 17, 2005

By 

Miryam Shoresh (Adirondack Mountains, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brendan the Navigator (Paperback)

Jean Fritz is a wonderful historical author for children. Her books are incredibly fanciful and fun in the way that they presents historical figures to children. It is clear that she has done her research as you read her stories objectively, but the way that she tells it is the most enjoyable way that I have ever read history!
She introduces Brendan to her readers, which she primarily sees as being children telling about incidents in his life which will draw the children to relate to Brendan. Then she tells an incredibly fanciful rendition of what happened on his journey to America. She finishes with 4 pages of a more historical accounting of which and how these tales may relate to what could have historically happened. The pictures that she has included are throughout and wonderful as well.
For a more historical account of Brendan's journey you may want to read the chapter on Saint Brendan in Robert Reilly's book "Irish Saints". (You can read my review of that where you can find my other reviews). But if you want to provide a child with a combination of fanciful tale and historical fact, this book will fill the bill.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Grumpy so-so saint, December 4, 2007

By 

dgray "dgray" (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brendan the Navigator (Paperback)

My family attends a church named after St. Brendan, so I wanted to purchase a book for my son (and the grown-ups) to learn about him, how God worked in his life, and why he was canonized. I am relatively unfamiliar with any details of the St. Brendan story excepting that he traveled in a boat wherever the wind would take him. This book may or may not portray the historical facts about St. Brendan based upon the best literature available. My impression of St. Brendan after reading the book is that he was a grumpy, self-centered man, who happened to be stubborn and single-minded enough to sail in a boat for seven years until he discovered America. I didn't find much in the book that would lead me to believe that he should have been canonized, and I am disappointed that the book did not illuminate whatever qualities he may have had to be considered a saint. On a separate note, the language in the book is somewhat advanced. It would not be appropriate for a beginning reader, but rather for a child who can read on his or her own for some time (there are lots of words on the pages and a wide vocabulary).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical!, November 23, 2010

By 

Bookish Momma "bookish" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brendan the Navigator (Paperback)

Imagine my surprise when I discovered in my daughter's history book that St. Brendan from Ireland could have possibly discovered America before even Leif Erickson! When I found this little story, full of wonder and in the Irish tradition of the tall tale, I was delighted, and so were my four year old and ten year old. The illustrations provided a magical feel that went well with the story. This story would be great animated. We loved it!