Christopher Columbus: How He Did It

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-- Unlike other current titles about Columbus, this excellent book discusses in careful detail the more practical aspects of his first voyage. Using neatly labeled drawings throughout, the authors explain the explorer's reasons for making the journey and the scientific and geographical assumptions upon which he based his plans. In 18 detailed pages, they discuss the construction of his three ships, including the size, name, and shape of every sail. The crew is another focus, as are the tools of the trade, armor, the unpleasant living conditions, and the hierarchy of command. Much of this information is not readily available elsewhere. The Yues give an unbiased view of Columbus as a man who failed in several ways, but who was also possibly the best ``dead reckoning'' sailor who ever lived, ?- certainly one of the most courageous. They also raise an interesting question prompted by some historians as to whether Columbus had some sort of secret knowledge that made him so sure he would reach his intended destination. The impressive bibliography as well as the meticulous drawings are evidence of painstaking research. This is a very special book because it answers many questions students often ask. While a fine book like Meltzer's Columbus and the World around Him (Watts, 1990) helps students understand the richness of the historical period, this one offers that elusive information about how the crew lived from day to day, and even more important, clearly shows Columbus's knowledge of the sea and his world. --Phyllis Graves, Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, TX