A brief account of the life and accomplishments of Christopher Columbus.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-- Adler includes all the important information about this explorer's early life and later achievements, but his writing style is a bit drier than in the other series entries. He mentions that Columbus's men were cruel to the Indians in his absence and consequently were killed, but otherwise does not convey much sense of the danger involved in the voyages or give many clues to Columbus's character or personality. The Wallners' illustrations, as in the earlier biographies, are framed watercolors that surround the text. They offer a delightful look at Renaissance dress and housing and add immeasurably to the spare text. A list of important dates is appended, and a map of the first voyage is included. Both the text and the illustrations are superior to Robert Young's Christopher Columbus (Silver Pr, 1990), which relies heavily on fictionalized dialogue. There are many books about Columbus appearing at this time, but this title fills the bill for those looking for an attractive picture book presentation of the basic facts. --Jean H. Zimmerman, Willett School, South River, NJ
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
David Abraham Adler (born April 10, 1947) is the author of nearly 200 books for children and young adults, most notably the Cam Jansen mystery series, the "Picture Book of..." series, and several acclaimed works about the Holocaust for young readers. Adler was born in New York City, New York. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year. Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career. Adler has three children and one grandson. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
Wallner has written and illustrated many biographies for children about remarkable women, such as "Grandma Moses", "Abigail Adams", and "Beatrix Potter". She is inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery, who always believed in her writing and never gave up. She and her husband live in Mexico.
John Wallner has illustrated many books for children, including "Helen Keller: A Holiday House Reader", and "A Picture Book of George Washington" and "A Picture Book of Davy Crockett", both illustrated with his wife, Alexandra, all written by David A. Adler. "Booklist" has called his art "lively [and] colorful." He lives with his wife in Mexico. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Wallner has written and illustrated many biographies for children about remarkable women, such as "Grandma Moses", "Abigail Adams", and "Beatrix Potter". She is inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery, who always believed in her writing and never gave up. She and her husband live in Mexico.
John Wallner has illustrated many books for children, including "Helen Keller: A Holiday House Reader", and "A Picture Book of George Washington" and "A Picture Book of Davy Crockett", both illustrated with his wife, Alexandra, all written by David A. Adler. "Booklist" has called his art "lively [and] colorful." He lives with his wife in Mexico. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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More About the Author
I write both fiction and non-fiction. I begin my fiction with the main character. The story comes later. Of course, since I'll be spending a lot of time with each main character, why not have him or her be someone I like? Andy Russell is based, loosely, on a beloved member of my family. He's fun to write about and the boy who inspired the character is even more fun to know. Cam Jansen is based even more loosely on a classmate of mine in the first grade whom we all envied because we thought he had a photographic memory. Now, especially when my children remind me of some promise they said I made, I really envy Cam's amazing memory. I have really enjoyed writing about Cam Jansen and her many adventures. For my books of non-fiction I write about subjects I find fascinating. My first biography was Our Golda: The Life of Golda Meir. To research that book, I bought a 1905 set of encyclopedia. Those books told me what each of the places Golda Meir lived in were like when she lived there. I've written many other biographies, including books about Martin Luther King, Jr; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; Helen Keller; Harriet Tubman; Anne Frank; and many others in my Picture Book Biography series. I've been a Yankee and a Lou Gehrig fan for decades so I wrote Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man. It's more the story of his great courage than his baseball playing. Children face all sorts of challenges and it's my hope that some will be inspired by the courage of Lou Gehrig. I am working now on another book about a courageous man, Janusz Korczak. My book One Yellow Daffodil is fiction, too, but it's based on scores of interviews I did with Holocaust survivors for my books We Remember the Holocaust, Child of the Warsaw Ghetto, The Number on My Grandfather's Arm, and Hiding from the Nazis. The stories I heard were compelling. One Yellow Daffodil is both a look to the past and to the future, and expresses my belief in the great spirit and strength of our children. I love math and was a math teacher for many years, so it was fun for me to write several math books including Fraction Fun, Calculator Riddles, and Shape Up! Fun with Triangles and Other Polygons. In my office I have this sign, "Don't Think. Just Write!" and that's how I work. I try not to worry about each word, even each sentence or paragraph. For me stories evolve. Writing is a process. I rewrite each sentence, each manuscript, many times. And I work with my editors. I look forward to their suggestions, their help in the almost endless rewrite process. Well, it's time to get back to dreaming, and to writing, my dream of a job. David A. Adler is the author of more than 175 children's books, including the Young Cam Jansen series. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Attractive Book that Begins to Add a Little Historical Detail to the Classic Approach to the Columbus Story,
This review is from: A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus (Picture Book Biographies) (Paperback)
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
12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good beginning but Adler leaves out important details.,
By kbwelker@yahoo.com (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus (Picture Book Biographies) (Hardcover)
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.
5.0 out of 5 stars
classroom book,
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This review is from: A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus (Picture Book Biographies) (Paperback)
The book arrived in a timely manner and in very good condition. We are very happy and would order from this vendor again.
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