Customer Reviews

Pedro's Journal (Apple Paperbacks)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Pedro's Journal was read by my 5th grade classes to learn more about Christopher Columbus and his journey. It was perfect for a class of mixed ability readers, it's history was well researched, and it engaged the students. We used it for a Literary Circle book. I highly recommend it for Social Studies, Language Arts, or an example of journal writing.

Pedro's Journal, written by Pam Conrad, is about a boy who loved the sea. He went out to sea with Christopher Columbus to find the new land. The captain thought he would be useful because he can read and write. He goes back and forth from ship to ship each day. The weather is terrible. The storms are on and off. Finally they get there. They find that the Indians are very useful. So they bring some Indians aboard. It took them longer to get back to Spain. Finally they get back to Spain. The last place Pedro is seen is when he is walking up toward his mother's house. I would recommend this
book to a friend.

My son and I just finished reading, "Pedro's Journal." We both enjoyed this book and I took the opportunity to help him map out where Pedro's adventures led him. I have one significant caveat. This is definitely told from the author's perspective. Pam Conrad is admittedly not a historian. Therefore, I found myself telling my son that a boy with Pedro's life experience, perspective and age would most likely not be making such harsh judgements regarding his captain, Christopher Columbus. We will be reading, "Christopher Columbus: Across The Ocean Sea (Heroes of History)" by Geoff and Janet Benge next.

I purchased three copies of the book because a short excerpt was in the teacher's manual of our Houghton Mifflin basal reader. The students and I were intrigued and wanted to know more about the story. It was not in our school library so I purchased 3 copies for our classroom library. The children have loved it!

I used this book with my 10 yr old homeschooler. It really helped her to understand how different things were back then. It's hard to imagine things different with all the technology we have today. It was an easy read and enjoyable for both us. We read it over Columbus Day and had a search for "land" right afterwards.

I am a 10 year old and I like this book because it teaches me about Pedro's journey with Christopher Columbus. Pedro tells us what he did while sailing with Christopher Columbus. Take for example the time he tricked someone else into swabbing the deck while he sat back and watched. Also, the prayers written in the book gave me a mind movie. I can imagine myself there with Pedro on the wooden bed on the ship with my hands together, saying a prayer. I would recommend this book to other 10 year olds. They'll find it interesting.

I read this book aloud to my children.

The story is about a young boy named Pedro de Salcedo, who sails aboard the Santa Maria with Christopher Columbus from August 3, 1942 to February 14, 1493. I don't know how historically accurate the book is, but we learned some things about Columbus that we didn't know before.

We found the story interesting, and we enjoyed it!

The voyage of Christopher Columbus, written as a journal by a ship's boy. Pedro was hired to ride with Columbus, not because he was a seaman, but because he could read and write. Details of the voyage are given from a boy's point of view, making them more interesting for 3rd-5th graders. The journal style gives a great feel for the adventures and discomforts of the voyage, and keeps a feeling of immediacy in this historical record.

My 4th graders were sad when this book came to an end. We read it aloud during our Columbus unit and they enjoyed it. It had some good faith stuff in it and was a pleasing story to think about just what happened to the Santa Maria ship! Got us thinking...love the fictional historical telling!

I read this book each year in my unit on explorers. My 5th grade students love it and can really relate to the main character, Pedro. My only complaint is that it is short and the kids always want more.