Living Books on Exploration and Discovery
New World Exploration
Adler, David A. Picture book of Christopher Columbus. Adler has a lot of biographies that make good introductions. Elementary.
Averill, Esther. Cartier Sails the St Lawrence. An older, hard to find book. Middle years (?).
d’Aulaire, Ingrid and Edgar. Christopher Columbus. Wonderful books. Elementary.
Foster, Genevieve. World of Columbus and Sons. Foster’s books are wonderful because they give so much of the historical context of what is going on in an era. I use them even for older grades. They make great spine books. Elementary+.
Fritz, Jean. Around the World in 100 Years and Where do you think you’re going Christopher Columbus. Fritz had a lot of good books. Around the World is longer than her usual and is middle school-teens. Where do you . . . is elementary.
Lawson, Robert. I Discover Columbus. A harder to find book by a good author. Middle school (?).
Lomask, Milton. Ship’s Boy with Magellan. Another good author. Middle years.
Noble, Iris. Honor of Balboa. We like this older author. Middle years.
O’Dell, Scott. King’s Fifth. Re Conquistadors. O’Dell has lots of good historical fiction. Middle years.
Syme, Roald. Amerigo Vespucci, Cartier, et.al. Syme is a wonderful older author and has books on just about every explorer you could name. Elementary.
Arctic and Antarctic Exploration
Burleigh, Robert. Black Whiteness. Elementary.
Curlee, Lynne. Into the Ice. Elementary.
Vikings
Bulla, Clyde Robert. Viking Adventure. Elementary.
Coatsworth, Elizabeth. Door to the North. Elementary.
d’Aulaire, Ingrid and Edgar. Leif the Lucky. Elementary.
Steele, William O. Story of Leif Ericson. Steele’s books are usually middle school level but this one might be elementary.
Miscellaneous
Gerrard, Roy. Sir Francis Drake His Daring Deeds. Elementary.
Monjo. Sea Beggars Son. We like Monjo too. Re a Dutch sea captain fighting the Spanish. Elementary.
Noble, Iris. Spain’s Golden Queen Isabella. Middle years.
Syme, Roald. Captain Cook and Francis Drake. Again, wonderful biographies. Elementary.
