Columbus by Ingri dAulaire

Columbus Reviews

• 
  Lmichelleb

  A good children's version of Columbus' life and voyages giving some insight into the thoughts and values of the man, noting some weaknesses as well as accomplishments.
• 
  Judy

  rating: 3.2
  
  This would be worth recommending to a young reader who has questions about Columbus. As I read, I wondered about the accuracy. We know a lot more about the man and his voyages now than we did in the early 1950s when this was written. Columbus is portrayed as a hero, and cruelties are attributed to others.
  
  p 44: The queen had ruled that the Indians were to be treated kindly and only gently converted to Christianity. When Columbus reminded his men of this, they refused to obey and began to plot against him. Columbus, who handled his men so well at sea, could not handle them on land.
  (cringe)
  
  The art is entertaining and the portraits are fairly generic.
• 
  Cathy aka The Attached Mama

  It sort of pains me to only give this book 4 stars; it is really so good. (I am one of those people who either passionately loves a book or hates it. There is rarely an in between.)
  
  These d'Aulaire books are GORGEOUSLY illustrated, and I feel like I am looking at a work of art as I flip through the pages. All of the d'Aulaire biographies are books that I am proud to own and collect. HOWEVER, I give it 4 stars because I feel like they are a bit awkward to read aloud. The information in the book is very good though, and this is a worthwhile read aloud for all children.
• 
  Cindi

  We are really learning to love these books by the D'Aulaires. In looking at the information on the dust jacket today I learned that they did two years of research and then another one year of drawing and writing to put this book together. I think that's so wonderful! It was so interesting to read about Columbus. The daughter that I read this book to tonight was telling me how she wants to read "Leif the Lucky" and also how she wants to own some of these books! Cool!
• 
  Emily M

  The kids read this to themselves this fall, but I ordered the whole Beautiful Feet CA history package, and it starts with this one, so I reread it to them. I appreciated the nuance re: treatment of the native inhabitants of the islands Columbus discovered and the dueling desires to spread the gospel and make money. Beautiful illustrations, of course, and it held the attention of all the kids.
• 
  Mary Beth

  My son and I enjoyed this book. It was a good introduction to Columbus and his strengths and , to some degree, his weaknesses. It did include info about Native Americans being forced into slavery, it went a little deeper into Columbus's four journeys to the new world than most kids' books.
• 
  Desiree

  We love d'Aulaires' books, the illustrations are beautiful and they know how to tell a story! I like that they didn't make Columbus out to be totally angelic, but they also tamed it down a lot. I really enjoy their mythology books.
• 
  Jana

  I enjoy teaching history to my kids by focusing on individual historical figures. The D'Aulaire's books have been favorites around our house. The illustrations are great and all of their books are well written.
• 
  Olivia

  This was a pretty good book, but not my favorite...
• 
  Meredith Henning

  He really enjoyed this one. Did a beautiful portrait of Columbus based on one of the illustrations in the book!
• 
  Amy

  This is such a beautiful book. It's a great way to introduce kids to information and history: delightful pictures and an engaging story.
• 
  Jenny - Book Sojourner

  Well-narrated story of Columbus. Beautifully illustrated. My kids and I enjoyed it.
• 
  Kierstin

  Read for school with girls. Great book and loved the art work!
• 
  Brigette

  Beautiful illustrations, beautifully told.
• 
  Emily

  The artwork is so beautiful in the d'Aulaire books! I love how this read, like a story not like a textbook. We are looking forward to reading more from this family.
• 
  Jenna

  Beautiful illustrations with an engaging historical narrative. Love the d'Aulaire books!
• 
  Hannah Avery

  A beautiful book!
• 
  Elizabeth

  We always enjoy the beautiful D'Aulaire books, but this one might be our favorite so far (though we haven't read Abe or Ben or Buffalo Bill).
• 
  Amy Bodkin

  Very detailed, good vocabulary, rather long, accurate but does avoid some of the less appropriate details. Good introduction to Columbus!
• 
  Maria

  It's Biography about the life of Columbus and the story of his adventure for looking for new land. Nice story!
• 
  Brooke

  Very interesting, great pictures. Great biography for kids.
• 
  Sunny Kim

  Lots of cool facts very interesting and fun
• 
  Erendira

  This one was a read aloud in the homeschool for the subject of Early American History, as prescribed by Beautiful Feet Books. I enjoyed much about it but like any discerning home educator who is careful about whose hands our histories are placed in, I had to take time to pause and explain certain variables that surfaced in the reading. More on that later.
  
  I'm fascinated by children's books that not only tell a good story but present it with intriguing, delightful illustrations. Utilizing the Charlotte Mason method in the home school draws me to living books that tell a story with the least amount of twaddle and insult to intelligence, with careful consideration to children's sensibilities. The D'Aulaire's are masters of this (in fact, I enjoy how they inserted the Leif Erikson saga on page 16-- a nod to their other title, Leif the Lucky). However...
  
  We need to be careful to take time with our young readers as they bear witness to history told in the narrative voice with no qualms about offense, or insult. Take for instance, page 34, which presents the claiming of the land by Columbus, the description of the indigenous people as "red-skinned savages," and then this anecdote: "The Spaniards did not mind being treated like gods by these gentle heathens to whom they had come to bring the Christian faith." I needed to explain to my daughter that Christian and Catholic are not synonymous, and it bears repeating over and over again when these faiths are categorized as equal. Columbus was motivated by Queen Isabella to share the Catholic faith. Distinctions are a matter of great importance. And this reference is layered with more to explain to the young reader, to be a critical thinker when digesting information like this.
  
  Overall, I would recommend this book for the home school reading repertoire, but with careful direction, whilst allowing the young student to draw conclusions, to make inferences that are self-directed...that is what makes this exercise more enticing for future readings. Again, this title is not a text, but rather a narrative account that, truth be told, interested me in perhaps reading the accounts of Columbus himself through his journals that I'm sure will be equally informative as they would be incendiary. I was quite impressed that my daughter saw Columbus in his true form and it is my hope that other children will as well.
• 
  Sandy

  "Colombus was a great man. But he was not a modest man. He wanted too much, and so he did not get enough. While he lived nobody realized the full importance of his discoveries."
  
  I adore the biographical books by Ingri D'Aulaire. They provide child appropriate biographies with lovely illustrations. This book celebrates the ambition and persistence of the man who dared to sail west in search of the riches of the Orient.
  
  I understand that Columbus led to the destruction of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. We cannot change that now. Although greed was a primary driver and not an honorable ambition, it is important to remember that he was a man of his time and of his culture. Only by learning history can we understand our human short-comings to make the future better.
  
  Columbus was not a man of true moral character, but his accomplishments and the courage he showed in seeking what lay across the Atlantic, changed the course of history and are worthy of recognition. In an age where many want to change and demonize the history and punish an entire race of people for things they did not do nor believe, this classic book provides a judgement-free based account of the history, which allows each family to have their own conversation about the "discovery" of the Americas.
• 
  Christina Brandsma

  I was not a fan of the way this piece of history was discussed in this resource. Columbus didn't just bring new friends to the new world, he captured people and took them against their will with him to an old world that was new to him. The book frames history with an us vs. them and a good guys vs. bad guys mentality that did not feel helpful when learning history with the kids in a polarized world that already pushes us all into those dichotomies.
• 
  Marleah

  A wonderful book about Columbus. I’m grateful that it didn’t skip over all the hardships he faced before and after his discovery of Cuba and Haiti (Hispaniola)—it led to a great discussion with my kids about perseverance through trials and setbacks. Highly recommended!!
  
• 
  Elizabeth Reid

  My kids LOVED having me read this book to them. I personally am very grateful for literature that tells the true stories of great men of old and this book is a great one for children. This book does a fabulous job of telling Columbus's story with gorgeous artwork.