Christopher Columbus: Explorer of the New WorldBy Robin S. Doak
Compass Point Books, 2005. 112 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction
If you have ever wondered about the life of Christopher Columbus (beyond the "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue..."), this handsome little biography of Christopher Columbus is a fine place to start.
Columbus was remarkable in many ways. Most impressive is the persistence with which he pursued sponsorship for his ambitious plan to cross the ocean to the West in order to reach the East. From 1492 to 1502 Columbus made four voyages to the New World. His first with three ships and about 90 men. The second voyage was outfitted with 17 ships and about 1,500 men. The third voyage was scaled back to six ships and end for Columbus with his being arrested and brought back to Spain in chains. The fourth voyage was scaled back further and was no more of a financial success than any of the earlier voyages. Columbus had made promises to the King and Queen of Spain regarding the gold, pearls and spices we would be returning with, but alas this never panned out for Columbus, who lived the remainder of his life believing he had found a new route to the Asia.
Written for middle-school readers, this slim volume provides little more information than is found in an encyclopedia article from World Book or Encyclopedia Americana; however the maps and illustrations make this book a more pleasurable reading experience than an encyclopedia article.
SML
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