Book Description

In August 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton set out from England in an attempt to lead the first expedition across the Antarctic continent. What followed was one of the most extraordinary survival stories in history: a ship trapped and then wrecked by ice; an expedition marooned, first on the constantly shifting Antarctic pack, then on a remote, uninhabited island; a daring open boat journey across the world's most violent ocean; a trek over unmapped mountains; and finally an amazing rescue.
Jennifer Armstrong's Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World received widespread praise and won the Orbis Pictus Award. Now she tells the Endurance story for a younger audience, in an oversize format with color paintings re-creating the detail and drama of the expedition's ordeal.
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The Spirit of Endurance lives on.
The current polar explorer Ann Bancroft said she was first inspired to visit Antarctica after the breathtaking pictures and reports of Shackleton's attempts to cross that continent. As she attempts to become part of the first women's team to traverse Antarctica she is passing by Shackleton's Glacier and must be remembering his team and their efforts. The actual photographs of Shackleton's ship in the book Spirit of Endurance and the reproduction paintings of each adventure and challenge they faced draw the reader into the tale. Students are fascinated by the hardships the men encountered and endured. The decision regarding the fate of their sled dogs was as heartbreaking to the reader as it must have been to the men of Endurance. The remarkable heroism and perseverence of Shackleton and his crew is an inspiration to the adventurers in all of us. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Survival against the odds, a clipper ship, Ernest Shackleton, the south magnetic pole, Antarctic science, a puppy named Blizzard, and a young woman named Paquita all play roles in this compelling profile of Australia’s most famous Antarctic explorer. Carmen Bredeson presents the life of Sir Douglas Mawson from his early fascination with geology to his adventures in Antarctica with Shackleton—leading up to a gripping account of his own scientific expedition to study uncharted parts of the continent. Tension mounts as Mawson sets out from base camp with a small team . . . suffers the loss of his men, dogs, and supplies . . . battles torturous cold with makeshift shelter, little food, and failing body . . . and ultimately—but just barely—makes it back to camp alive. This spellbinding adventure will keep kids turning pages! ... Read more

Book Description

If you ask children in Ireland who really discovered America, you may get this surprising answer: "St. Brendan, of course." He left Ireland 1,500 years ago in a leather boat to find paradise. Tales of the wonders he and his crew saw and the Monster Territory they encountered during their trip have become part of Irish legend. And legend also says that the island of unsurpassed beauty that St. Brendan called paradise was actually America."A lively, provocative 'history mystery.' " — Publishers Weekly"The author, with her ability to breathe new life into historical facts and fancies, retells the legend of St. Brendan. . . .Unusually inviting." — The Horn Book ... Read more

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The story of the man who discovered America: St. Brendan
"Brendan the Navigator: A History Mystery About the Discovery of America" has to do with the fact that if you ask any schoolchild in Ireland "Who discovered America?" they will answer, "St. Brendan, of course." Jean Fritz explains in his slim volume how the Irish may indeed be right and that long before Christopher Columbus or even the Vikings this Irish saint made a long voyage in a leather boat. The legends of Brendan tell of encounters with monsters in an unknown world, and scholars are making a case for that unknown world having been the North American coast. In 1977 a modern explorer made a voyage from Ireland to Newfoundland in a leather boat, which proved at least that such a feat was indeed possible. This "history mystery" tells young readers what little we know about St. Brendan's voyage, but mostly the book tells the story of his life (apparently he was often cross with people) and the tales that make up his legend. Ultimately, Fritz leaves it up to the readers to decide whether or not there are enough facts to make the legend true. The story of "Brendan the Navigator" might be a historical footnote in terms of the exploration of the new world, but it is a fascinating little footnote nonetheless and a timely little read for those young lads and lasses who will be wearing the green come St. Patrick's day next. ... Read more

Book Description

The Vikings, Columbus, Cabot, Balboa, Ponce de Leon, Cortes, Cartier, Coronado--from 1000 to the 1540s, Europeans explorers were making a mad dash to the Americas. They claimed they had "discovered" a"New World." Of course this was news to the people who'd been living in the Americas for thousands of years. People who had built palaces, bathrooms with steam baths, cities. People who had Gold! It was inevitable: New World and Old World collided! ... Read more

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Not a patch on the original
Terry Deary writes the original Horrible Histories. They're interesting, witty, and even educational. Kids and adults alike read them for fun! Read them.

Elizabeth Levy's "American Horrible Histories", however, are dull, unfunny, and while they are "educational", I can't see anyone reading them for fun. It reads like a text book. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1870, an eight-year-old girl named Mary Kingsley lived in a small house on a lonely lane outside London, England. Her mother was bedridden and her father was rarely home. Mary did not go to school. She served as housekeeper, handyman, nursemaid, and servant, for years. In 1893 Mary traveled to West Africa and proceeded to embark on an astonishing journey of discovery. In her high-necked blouse, long skirt, and Victorian boots, she endured the brutal heat and hardships of Africa, and thrived. With luminous watercolors and a lively text, Don Brown tells the fascinating story of a most uncommon woman. ... Read more

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Travel With a Remarkable Woman.....
In 1892, at the age of thirty, Mary Kingsley's parents died, and for the first time in her life Mary was free to do whatever she wanted. Her childhood had been bleak and solitary. She was completely housebound. Mary never went to school or played with other children. Her father traveled all over the world and was rarely home, and she spent all her time keeping house and nursing her sick and bedridden mother. But this spirited girl made a life for herself in her father's library. "Books were her companions and teachers." So, after her parent's death, and inspired by the travel and adventure books she loved, Mary did what was considered unthinkable for a proper lady of Victorian England, she set off alone to visit mysterious and dangerous West Africa..... Don Brown has chronicled the life and wonderful adventures of Mary Kingsley in his introductory picture-book biography. His straightforward and engaging text is full of history, drama, humor, and Mary's own words, and complemented by charming, evocative watercolor artwork. Together word and art tell a fascinating and entertaining story of a remarkable and clever woman who took charge of her life and never looked back. Mr Brown includes an author's note at the end to enhance and complete the story, and a bibliography of additional books about Ms Kingsley and her amazing African excursions. Perfect for youngsters 5-9, Uncommon Traveler is a simple, yet spellbinding masterpiece you don't want to miss.

Who would have thought?
Those who know Mary Kingsley probably never thought there would be a children's book about her, but why not? Her classic "Travels in West Africa" is still in print after over 100 years, and deservedly so (please see my review). This is a fine book for children, especially because its true-life Victorian heroine did something that most modern people wouldn't do, i.e., she traveled, on her own, though mostly unexplored Africa (Gabon to be precise), and afterwards became a very popular writer and speaker. Hopefully children who read this will someday go on to read Kingsley in her own words. [One small note: terminology has changed a bit, by "West Africa" Kingsley refers to what we would today call the Atlantic coast region of Central Africa.]

Another winner by Don Brown
Don Brown, author and illustrator of "Uncommon Traveler," excels at the non-fiction picture book. In his newest, he's told and illustrated the tale of Mary Kingsley, a single woman who traveled Africa alone in the late 18OO's. He makes good use of lively quotes from her journals, and keeps the tale to just the liveliest parts--Mary swimming with hippos, canoing with crocodiles, and falling into animal traps. He also lets kids know about her lonely childhood, how she took care of her invalid mother, and of her freedom at 30 from family responsibilities--the time when her adventures began. This book is good for everyone, but would be particularly useful for teachers and libraries, interested in sharing non-fiction stories about adventurous girls. The art in the book is distinctive and the prose style clean and lively. I also enjoyed Don Brown's"Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries," about a girl-fossil hunter, one of the best fossil-hunters ever. ... Read more

Book Description

Schoolchildren will be fascinated by this clear account of Columbus's voyages and his encounters with storms, Indians, and political intrigue.A map of the world in Columbus's time and a detailed drawing of the Santa Maria add depth to this exciting, real-life adventure tale. ... Read more

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A Great Read for Kids!
I discovered this book while browsing for quality literature to bring to my classroom.I read this book because it fits my third grade curriculum and has a low reading level. Meet Christopher Columbus is an excellentintroduction to biographies and explorers.The format of the book allowsfor less experienced readers to read small parts of his life without beingoverwhelmed.The language is simple enough for children to comprehend themain idea and details presented without difficulty.The history isaccurate and presented in a logical fashion. I recommend this toparents and teachers to help students learn about Columbus as well asimprove their reading! ... Read more

Book Description

Exploring the Polar Regions describes the perils of Arctic and Antarctic travel, and the courage of the explorers who first mapped these frozen wastelands. It tells of the quest for the fabled Northwest and Northeast Passages through icy Arctic seas, of Peary's conquest of the North Pole, Shackleton's epic journey and the race for the South Pole. You will learn why these explorers set out, hazards they encountered along the way, what they discovered in the farthest reaches of the Earth, and more. Clear maps and superb reconstructions bring these journeys vividly to life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Children's book
This really is a children's book. It is very short. The pictures are horrible-- washed out black and white, more akin to a pale blue.

A Tale of Everest
The book Mystery on Everest is about renowned English mountain climber George Mallory and his disappearance during his three attempts at climbing the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Everest. His one reason to try for Everest was "Because Its There". To this day, nothing is known of him if he made it to the summit or not after his third attempt. This photo biography tells the tale of his life in childhood, during the war, his family, and his hobby, mountain climbing. Educated at Cambridge, Mallory was always adventurous, but it wasn't until later on in life that he found his new love in the English hills, mountain climbing. He soon married his first wife and started a family. During World War One, he manned howitzers that pounded German positions behind enemy lines. After the war, he went back to his family. His desire for mountain climbing drew him to join expeditions to Everest in 1921, 1922, and 1924. A team of mountain climbers found Mallory's body in 1999, opening up a vast stockpile of questions that have not been able to be answered since his death. Did Mallory reach the summit 29 years before Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary ?

This photo biography is filled with many interesting pictures that explain more than words. I saw this book on the bookshelf and was instantly drawn to it. This book is very easy to read and had many black and white pictures. I greatly recommend this book to anybody that is interested in mountains, human will, or mystery. ... Read more

Book Description

To say that Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle was determined is like saying the sun is warm. La Salle made his way from Eastern Canada to the Great Lakes. Then he traveled by canoe down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. This vast territory was dense unexplored wilderness, controlled by the fierce and powerful Iroquois. To make the merely daunting nearly impossible, La Salle was on his own. His King, Louis X1V, would provide neither protection, men nor money.

Through one setback after another, La Salle kept on going. His men deserted him; he walked a thousand miles, in the middle of the brutal Canadian winter, back to Montreal and organized a new expedition. The Iroquois threatened; he brought together rival tribes, and speaking in their own language, united them into an alliance against the Iroquois. La Salle's ship sunk with a fortune in furs meant to finance his expedition. Again, he walked back to Montreal and found new financial support.

Part adventure, part biography, Despite All Obstacles is the fascinating story of this obstinate and courageous man who had dreams as large as the continent and a will to match those dreams. ... Read more

Book Description

Five years after Columbus sailed off to find a sea route to the Orient, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama went on the same quest. His epic, 27,000 mile journey around the bottom of Africa was filled with danger, treachery, sacrifice, cruelty and acts of extraordinary courage. By the time da Gama returned, half his ships were gone, and two thirds of his crew were dead, but he had found what Columbus had not.

Da Gama brought back tales of East African and Asian marketplaces overflowing with riches, of rulers who wore emeralds and rubies and pearls the size of grapes, of ships and cannons that were no match for those of the Portuguese. Portugal would soon send more ships and more cannons. The rest of Europe would follow. And the world would never be the same.

Joan Elizabeth Goodman's narrative captures both the drama of da Gama's voyage and its central place in world history. Tom McNeely's fluid watercolors give the reader a visceral sense of an unknown world unfolding before the explorer's eyes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

ITS ALRIGHT!
hi ,
Im Hermione and i like to write a review on the above book.
its nice and ive bought it using the information they have given.
though i would like them also to write out the summary of the book so that the viewers have an idea of the book since all the books are about vasco da gama{the bks that i ordered}.
In all other respects the site is good
thanking you
Hermione{this is not only a name in the harrypotter bk but also my real name}
{im from britain and love harrypotter}

A memorable and enjoyable "window in time"
A Long And Uncertain Journey is the entertaining and informative picturebook story of Vasco da Gama's 27,000 mile exploratory journey in 1497. Sailing to discover a route to China just five years after Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama discovered what Columbus had not -- a sea route from Europe to China. Elizabeth Goodman blends a compelling, dramatic narrative with Tom McNeely's superbly drawn watercolors giving readers age 8 to 18 a memorable and enjoyable "window in time" to one of the truly outstanding feats in history. ... Read more