A Book About Christopher Columbus

by Ruth Belov Gross, Syd Hoff

With the support of the Queen of Spain, Christopher Columbus and his three ships set out into the unknown to find a shorter sea route to the Indies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, School

Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Florida, Ruth Belov Gross has lived in New York City ever since graduating from the University of Miami in 1950. Although her first job out of college was as an editorial assistant for a children's publishing house, Gross never planned to write for children herself. Instead she went on to a successful career as a medical writer, where she became adept at thorough and meticulous research and translating complex medical information into nontechnical language.

Such skills served her well when she wrote her first children's book, What Do Animals Eat?, in 1970, and though she initially assumed she would return to medical writing, she never did. “I was finally doing what I had always wanted to do — without knowing that it was what I had always wanted to do.”

Since then, Gross has written numerous books for children, specializing in nonfiction and re-tellings of traditional tales. She welcomes questions and comments from children, and often uses their input to make her work more thorough. When they are not working, Gross and her husband enjoy cooking, gardening, and vacationing in Vermont, where they have a tiny A-frame house in the woods.

Reviews

[Jeanie Cullip · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Book About Christopher Columbus by Ruth Belov Gross is an informative picture book that properly introduces Columbus' story and his role in history. Published in 1974, the illustrations are simple, with only using the color blue; however, they assist in telling the story well. The book concludes with a section entitled, What happened afterwards? This section provides a popular historical perspective on what occurred once Christopher Columbus and his crew arrived to the lands that were thought to be the Indies.

Growing up in the eighties, I was given the story of Christopher Columbus landing on Plymouth Rock and having Thanksgiving with the Indians. A perspective with many untruths! The focus was never about the Queen sending Columbus to India to find gold and spices, rather the connection that was made between Columbus, the crew, the indians, and the pilgrims. We made indian hats, pilgrim belts, and homemade butter.

I am so glad that this book captures a more truthful perspective in American history. This read aloud could be a hook to the lesson in which you discuss the role of Christopher Columbus and could be paired with other picture books that provide different perspectives of him arriving to the Americas in 1492.

Read more about this book on my blog (Friday) at http://readwritesparklecoffee.blogspo...

[Russell Kapryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very nice book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. I actually learned a lot about Columbus from reading this. For example, I learned that Columbus originally went to Portugal to fund his desire for a voyage to the Indies before going to Spain. I also learned that he had grown frustrated with Spain for denying him a voyage for six years and that he planned to go to France before being summoned back. In addition, I learned that one of his ships had been greatly damaged in a storm so a number of his crew had to remain on one of the islands and could not return to Spain, as well as that a barrel with a letter with information that the Indies had been found had been dropped to sea in case none of Columbus' ships or crew made it back.

[Jude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much to my chagrin, this was not an abridged biography of the man who brought us "Home Alone" and the first two "Harry Potter" films.

[Katie]

Note for self--great, fair and age appropriate for 5-7, keep for future

[Rebecca Hawkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography of Christopher Columbus is written very well. This book could be used to introduce Christopher Columbus and what he did to younger students. It is written in a way that younger children could easily understand and stay interested in. With pictures on every page it also makes the book more interesting by giving kids something to look at while they listen.

[Misbah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intro book about Christopher Columbus and what he was known for.