Lives of the Explorers: Discoveries, Disasters (and What the Neighbors Thought)

Since man first roamed the earth, some have always had a need to look over the next hill or across the wide river, to go where none have gone before. These explorers have changed the face of history and helped to bridge cultures. With so many adventurers from which to choose, Kathleen Krull must have had a difficult time choosing seventeen to include in this wonderful book for kids. Kids love to read about explorers and their travels, and this book will give them a glimpse into their lives beyond the explorations. Old favorites such as Christopher Columbus and Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea will be found here, but so will Ibn Battuta, Zheng He, and Isabella Bird. These explorers, though lesser-known, are certainly no less interesting. Kids will be fascinated to read about how these people lived, how they came to be explorers, and what they faced as they ranged far and wide. The delightful, brightly-colored illustrations and maps by Kathryn Hewitt are the perfect complement to Krull’s lively accounts of the explorers’ lives. This book will be a welcome addition to the study of explorers. Kids won’t be able to pass it by.