Book Description

In 1914, Captain Ernest Shackleton and his crew set out for the South Pole. They never made it. Within sight of land, the ship ran into dangerous waters filled with chunks of ice. Then the sea froze around them, and there was no hope of rescue. The incredible true story of an eighteen-month odyssey. Mile 4 Road to Reading books help kids take the plunge into more complicated stories. Bite-size chapters make these books more challenging while the full-color artwork helps readers understand the text. ... Read more

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The Corps of Discovery explores the Louisiana Purchase
Sometimes history comes alive through the details. In this Cornerstones of Freedom volume on the Lewis & Clark expedition there are two photographs of historic artifacts that certainly make the whole adventure come alive for me. First, there are pages from William Clark's journal which contains accounts of weather conditions and geographical observations, as well as sketches fo the scenery and wildlife. Second, there is a letter of credit, written by President Thomas Jefferson in his own hand, so that the expedition could return home by ship (it was never used as Lewis and Clark returned home overland). There are historic paintings of Lewis and Clark, as well as Sacagawea and York (the black man who astounded the Plains Indians), but it is these photographs of actual items that prove the most inspirational.

R. Conrad Stein provides a more than adequate introduction to the expedition known it is day as the Corps of Discovery, which left St. Louis in the spring of 1804 for a two year journey up the Missouri River, across the Rocky Mountains, and down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. The goal was to explore the land the United States acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. One of the key consequences of the expedition that traveled 8,000 miles was that it proved, once and for all, that an inland waterway in North American did not exist. Part of the Cornerstones of Freedom volume on the Louisiana Purchase is devoted to the Lewis & Clark expedition, but this volume, of course, provides much more information. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1803, at President Jefferson’s request, Captains Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery set out to explore beyond the newly purchased land of the Louisiana Territory to the western end of the continent. By the time the Corps returned years later, everyone believed they were dead–killed by bears, attacked by Indians, or fallen victims to a rough country. But the men had survived and with their long journey, they staked a claim to the West for the new country, America.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

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Well suited for historical book reports
This year marks the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's western adventure, so the arrival of this history book addition to the "Landmark Books" series is right on time. In clear, readable text, "As Far As The Eye Can Reach" tells the fascinating tale of how Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked on a harrowing journey to explore and conquer the mysterious western parts of their new country. Western expansion was the dream of then-President Thomas Jefferson, and so co-commanders Lewis and Clark began a cross-country trip through the pristine wilderness stretching across North America to the Pacific Ocean. Faced with the unknown, their aim was not only to stake a claim in the west, but also to collect specimens of plants and animals, map the unfamiliar frontier, find a northwest passage for men to follow, and to establish a diplomatic relationship with the various groups of Native Americans. Author Elizabeth Cody Kimmel tells the grand tale in eight simple, straightforward chapters, a prologue, epilogue and select bibliography. Chapters are numbered rather than named, making the book appear unfriendly and unwieldy for use as a research tool without a comprehensive read-through. Similarly, the impressive cover will attract many students, but the lackluster black-and-white illustrative materials are more academic than enticing. Children age eight and up will find "As Far As The Eye Can Reach" well suited for historical book reports, and teachers will find it a comprehensive teaching tool. ... Read more

Book Description

In the sixteenth century, a great sailing ship is built in a Spanish port. Sailing the Spanish Main and loaded with treasure, it's attacked by pirates and sunk. Today, the site is explored by divers who bring up the wreckage and reconstruct the ship in a modern Spanish port. Fast Forward Books are lots of fun! They transform distant events of history into very real, dramatically vivid experiences for young readers. Each title covers one specific place, then, using a series of handsome color-illustrated two-page spreads, shows that place at different times over many centuries. Tabs on page edges label illustrations with a succession of identifying dates, with the final spread showing the title subject's location as it exists today. ... Read more

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Great Historical Reference
The "Atlas of Past Times" found a permanent place on my coffee table. This book is absolutely loaded with illustrative maps, photos, and text. John Haywood has done to the pictorial record of world history what Kenneth C. Davis did for American history in his "Don't Know Much About History."

Time after time over the years I've heard or read about a particular civilization, war, political upheaval, or religious movement, but was unclear as to the specific timeframe and geographic scope. It's one thing to read about boundaries in text, but Haywood lays it all out in numerous maps. Each map is color-coded and loaded with useful information. The legends are clear and concise. A perfect example of how I found the book useful was in my following the war in Iraq. I didn't want to read six textbooks to gain a better understanding of the region's history. Haywood's book provides a fantastic visual overview: Mesopotamia, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Jews, the Arabs, the advance and subdivisions of Islam, the Kurds, the Turks, etc. The area has a long and convoluted history, which the maps really help place within grasp of the common man.

The accompanying text is only a cursory--but well written--examination of chronological world history, which is fine; it is titled and pitched as an "Atlas," and therein lies its strength and attraction. I will refer to this book again and again. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of BIG ICE ... Read more

Book Description

It's a weird world out there... dazzle your friends with wacky facts and more from this mega new series.Did you know... The first step in making a mummy was to pull the brain out through the nostrils.Scientists re-froze the body of a 5,000-year-old ice mummy because he was starting to thaw.Bodies can be frozen, dried-out, or even pickled to make a mummy. A full-color, fun, and informative series, Secret Worlds offers a chance to get your teeth deep into a wide range of fascinating subjects from nature, history, and science.Every title has: Easy-to-read narrative text written by a specialist who combines expert knowledge with an entertaining and fresh style.Superb color photography that entices the reader into the subject world with close-up views and dramatic shots.Weird World feature boxes that reveal a wealth of wacky facts.Tried-and-tested websites to check out the latest info.A mega reference section with even more facts and figures for the enthusiast.Suitable for children aged ten and up -- as well as every other family member who is curious about the subject. ... Read more

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more about mummies
Have you ever wondered how mummies were made?this book has lots of neat fact about them.Lots of neat internet links are included for futher research. ... Read more

Book Description

When President Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to find an overland route to the Pacific Ocean, it was Sacajawea, with a baby on her back, who taught them how to survive in the wilderness. ... Read more

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Sacajawea; Her True Story
Hi my name is Jill and I read the book Sacajawea; Her True story by Joyce Milton.. The book was great. It is geared toward first through third grade reading levels, but it is a good read aloud for up to fourth grade. The pictures are very colorful and vivid and the text is simple and easy to understand. The book chronicles the important events of Sacajawea's life, beginning with her childhood. The book also includes maps and symbols that are helpful for additional understanding. I would recommend this book to all primary students who are learning about Sacajawea and/or Lewis and Clark. ... Read more

Book Description

The exciting story of Columbus¹s life is told using the journals he kept during his four voyages tot he New World, voyages that would change world history forever. ... Read more

Book Description

Find out how explorer Christopher Columbus survived great danger on the high seas on his voyages to the New World. Longer sentences and an expanded vocabulary make this series of 48-page books slightly more challenging: Level 2 is appropriate for children who have started to read but still need help. Information boxes full of background information will stimulate inquisitive minds. These books contain between 700 and 850 words, and they are approximately 70 percent pictures and 30 percent text. The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4. ... Read more

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Biographies for the younger set
This book is a great resource for the 2nd to 4th grade reader. Blashfield does an excellent job of making the material accessible to the younger reader. The pictures and illustrations help to keep the reader's interest. ... Read more

Book Description

This dramatic, suspenseful narrative reads like an adventure story-but it is true. In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and a twenty-seven-man crew set off on an expedition to reach and cross Antarctica. Just a month and a half into the voyage, their ship, the Endurance, was caught fast in heavy pack ice. The men had no radio contact, and no one knew where they were or even that they were in trouble. None of them should have survived the ordeal that followed-unstable ice floes, treacherous waters, freezing temperatures, and starvation. Only the extraordinary leadership, courage, and strength of Shackleton brought the whole team safely through. Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's clear, compelling text is illustrated with photographs, taken and carefully preserved by the ship's photographer, that record the stark condition and the day-to-day activities of the men. Hand-drawn maps that show the extraordinary route of the Endurance and her crew. Bibliography, index. ... Read more

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Ice Story Reveiw
This was a very interesting book and i would recamend it to anyone who like adventure.

Ice Story: Shakleton's Lost Expedition
The true story with lots of original photographs of Sir Ernest Shakleton's unsuccessful Antarctic Expedition. The hardships they faced were incredible, yet Shackleton was a true commander. He kept his men together in mind and body. Excellent adventure book and recommend it for grades 3 through 11th. Also recommended reading for teachers and parents. ... Read more

Book Description

Alien and wild, the far north has the powerful allure of the unknown, a call explorers have heeded for hundreds of years. First came the search for a route through the polar icecap to the rich lands of Asia. The Northeast and Northwest Passages were painstakingly traced. Then the race was on to one of the remotest points on earth - the North Pole. The desire for knowledge, wealth, adventure, and fame fueled expedition after expedition. Some Arctic explorers met with success and celebrity; others found madness and death; a few simply disappeared. Into the Ice, graced with majestic acrylic paintings, traces the slow unveiling of the secrets of this mysterious and forbidding frozen region. ... Read more