Customer Reviews

A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus (Picture Book Biographies)

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

 

 

This is an interesting book with nice artwork that is a bit dry. I've included the first three paragraphs for your perusal so you can get the gist of the book's style.

Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy.

His parents were Susanna and Domenico Colombo. Do-

menico was a master weaver. Susanna was the daughter

of a weaver.

Genoa is at the shore of the Ligurian Sea, part of the

Mediterranean. When Christopher and others looked out

over the water, they saw no end to it.

Christopher was a tall boy with a thin face and freckles.

He worked in his father's shop, but he dreamed of going to sea.

While the downside of the book is it's stark prose and a lack of smooth transitions in places, on the plus side it has nice artwork and covers many details that other little kid books don't. For example, it talks about how important Christopher's brother, Bartholomew, was when it came for inquiring after funds for the expedition. He was the one who spoke to the Kings and Queens of England and France - not Christopher. In addition, the author discusses how Christopher was once shipwrecked, and how he ran a shop with Bartholomew that provided books and maps for navigators.

In a general sense, this book builds a picture of Christopher Columbus as a man who didn't give up when faced with delays and difficulties. After reading and discussing the book, children should be left with the impression that Christopher's trip wasn't a sudden and whimsical affair and that he acquired years of sailing experience and struggled through many setbacks before being able to begin his great adventure. I, personally, like the emphasis on Columbus' struggle as it demonstrates that persistence works.

In addition, this book introduces the fact that the native inhabitants of the new world were not well treated by the Europeans. It doesn't go into detail, but it at least mentions the fact, along with the notion that the Indians retaliated in turn. In our home, we talked about this part with our six year old, but not our four year old. [Lets face it, those that would have us talk about genocide and what-not must not have young children in their lives as their suggestions are ludicrously inappropriate.]

Three and a half Stars. Attractive book with pastel artwork. Okay Read-aloud for older children 9 years and up, it's a little dry for wee ones. That said, if you are flexible and change some of the verbiage around it makes a good educational text for the advanced preschooler on up to about eight-year old.

The author touches on many points that children can relate to. And it is one of the few books for children that I have run across that even mentions that the men Columbus left behind were mean to the Indians, and that the Indians, in return, murdered them.

Pam T~

mom/blogger

With great illustrations, Adler gives us the bare facts of Columbus' life, however, he leaves out the passion of the man that children can really appreciate. Furthermore, Adler "forgets" that 1 reason Columbus sailed was to find new lands but another reason was to win converts to Christ. This & other historical information is lacking in his book. I was left with more questions than answers based on this book & will be looking elsewhere for these important answers. I wish the end of the book had a "parents note" with a synopsis of Columbus' life in more detail.

The book arrived in a timely manner and in very good condition. We are very happy and would order from this vendor again.

The story presented here is not surprising, as it recounts the traditional, accepted tale of Columbus' journey. It focuses on Columbus as a person, his desires, struggles, and eventual "success."

Unfortunately, this kind of a focus is very limiting. The bias embedded in the book treats the indigenous people as mute, subservient, nameless creatures who are happy to invite the invaders onto their land. Adler even relegates them to the status of mere goods saying something along the lines of, "On his journey back to spain, Columbus brought back with him pineapples, spices, and a few Indians." Those Indians, if you look at Columbus' own words, were slaves:

"Thursday, October 11, 1492

It appears to me, that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants and I am of opinion that they would very readily become Christians, as they appear to have no religion. They very quickly learn such words as are spoken to them. If it please our Lord, I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your Highnesses, that they may learn our language."

"October 14, 1492

...these people are very unskilled in arms. Your Highnesses will see this for yourselves when I bring you the seven that I have taken. After they learn our languages I shall return them, unless Your Highnesses order that the entire population be taken to Castille, or held captive here. With 50 men you could subject everyone and make them do what you wished"

Adler's story also fails to mention that Columbus himself was responsible for a tribute system that resulted in the death and mutilation of thousands of Taino. It might be nice to think that it was a result of the "bad deeds" of his men, but Columbus' logs, and the writings of his contemporary, Bartoleme De Las Casas tell a different story.

For anyone interested in sharing with students more than one simple and incomplete version of this history, I would recommend Rethinking Columbus, edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson.