Who Discovered America? (Mysteries and Puzzles of the New World)

Lauber, Patricia

ISBN 10: 0060237295 ISBN 13: 9780060237295

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1992

Synopsis

A reexamination of the "discovery" of America discusses the people who reached the New World before Columbus did, from the Ice Age Siberian hunters who crossed the Bering bridge to the Vikings.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 3-6-- This is a simplified version of an earlier publication (Random, 1970). The organization of the two books is similar; Lauber begins with the voyage of Columbus and describes the variety of people who were living in what he thought were the Indies. She presents the reasons many scholars now believe that Columbus was not the first foreigner to visit the Americas. A large portion of the text is devoted to the Vikings and the presumed location of Vinland, while another chapter deals with the Irish priests and English fishermen who may have reached North America as well. The author's writing style is clear and readable, but in the process of simplifying the text, she has eliminated much of the archaeological and historical explanations of when the various groups flourished in the Americas. As a result, young readers may be confused as to when and where the Incas, Mayas, Aztecs, or Indians of the Great Plains lived. The original book is illustrated with photographs, many of which show artifacts and archeologists at work. The revised edition has watercolor illustrations that do give readers an idea of the clothing, ships, and dwellings of the people in question, but are less effective than either photographs or the clear maps and drawings found in Krensky's Who Really Discovered America (Hastings, 1987). Betsy and Guilio Maestro's The Discovery of the Americas (Lothrop, 1991) has less text, but the superb maps, illustrations, and table of dates put the entire period into clear perspective. Lauber's book is an acceptable additional purchase where interest warrants.
- Jean H. Zimmerman, Willett School, South River, NJ
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0060237295
• ISBN 13: 9780060237295
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 79
• Illustrator: Eagle Mike