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1607: A New Look at Jamestown: .
1607: A New Look at Jamestown is the last word on America's first colony. With expert appraisal of new archaeological evidence, this National Geographic title stands alone for timely authority and visual appeal.
Karen Lange's gripping narrative incorporates analysis of the latest discoveries from the Jamestown site. The text has been researched with the help of National Geographic grantee Dr. William Kelso. The pages come alive with Ira Block's stunning photography, detailing newly discovered artifacts, and highlighting authentic Jamestown reenactments. Compelling new theories, a National Geographic period map, and stunning reenactment photography take us back to Jamestown in 1607, where the course of our country's history changed forever.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
Karen Lange's gripping narrative incorporates analysis of the latest discoveries from the Jamestown site. The text has been researched with the help of National Geographic grantee Dr. William Kelso. The pages come alive with Ira Block's stunning photography, detailing newly discovered artifacts, and highlighting authentic Jamestown reenactments. Compelling new theories, a National Geographic period map, and stunning reenactment photography take us back to Jamestown in 1607, where the course of our country's history changed forever.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
1 person is currently reading
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 20, 2010
This is a wonderful history book for children that details the major events of the time and describes what everyday life was like in this time and place, for the English settlers, and to a lesser extent, for the Native American tribes. It clears up a lot of misconceptions about the colony, and the reader learns of why some of the calamities happened, including an unusual period of drought. This account also did a great job of explaining why certain Englishmen (and later Englishwomen) would want to go to Jamestown area. Life was extremely difficult for many people on both sides of the Atlantic. I particularly love seeing how history can “change” depending on what we find out in the present time.
There is a very helpful and interesting map and many absolutely wonderful photographs. The photos are truly fabulous. Some show 400 year old objects, but many show reenactments from that time.
The Native peoples are referred to here as Indians, and that surprised me given that this National Geographic book was published in 2007. But, what’s addressed within is that the Indians were also immigrants, though their habitation on the land was 1,400 years old at the time Jamestown was settled by the English immigrants. But the term used still disturbed me. I’d love to talk with the author and National Geographic team about why it was used.
At the end of the book, there’s a page with the Chronology of events that goes from the 1550s to 1676. Also included are a bibliography, a list of web sites and places to visit, a list of sources for quotes and information, and an index.
I see that there are at least two other similar National Geographic history books: about the 1621 Thanksgiving & about the Mayflower in 1620.
There is a very helpful and interesting map and many absolutely wonderful photographs. The photos are truly fabulous. Some show 400 year old objects, but many show reenactments from that time.
The Native peoples are referred to here as Indians, and that surprised me given that this National Geographic book was published in 2007. But, what’s addressed within is that the Indians were also immigrants, though their habitation on the land was 1,400 years old at the time Jamestown was settled by the English immigrants. But the term used still disturbed me. I’d love to talk with the author and National Geographic team about why it was used.
At the end of the book, there’s a page with the Chronology of events that goes from the 1550s to 1676. Also included are a bibliography, a list of web sites and places to visit, a list of sources for quotes and information, and an index.
I see that there are at least two other similar National Geographic history books: about the 1621 Thanksgiving & about the Mayflower in 1620.
June 14, 2021
It's Nat Geo, so the book is a quality production. It is filled with excellent maps and photographs of archaeological digs and reenactors. The text is clear and accessible.
Two key concepts for understanding the Jamestown colony are the hierarchy of English society and the power structure of the Powhatans and surrounding tribes. This book does a great job of presenting both. I plan on using this book in the classroom to build prior knowledge and provide visuals the next time I teach about Jametown.
The book covers the period of 1607-1625, but makes almost no mention of slavery, which began in 1619.
Two key concepts for understanding the Jamestown colony are the hierarchy of English society and the power structure of the Powhatans and surrounding tribes. This book does a great job of presenting both. I plan on using this book in the classroom to build prior knowledge and provide visuals the next time I teach about Jametown.
The book covers the period of 1607-1625, but makes almost no mention of slavery, which began in 1619.
July 25, 2012
Plot Summary:
Looks at Jamestown from the perspective of archaeological evidence and written records from its beginning in 1607 to roughly 1677. It is a gritty, honest history, detailing the dissension between the Colonists and the Native Americans, and the hunger, sickness, and struggling that the Colonists faced.
Personal Evaluation:
Very readable for upper elementary and middle school students, it is a brief account of complex history that is harsh and sad. I like the honesty of the content and the pictures from the archaeological findings and Jamestown reenactments.
Memorable Literary Element:
With the photographs are captions that summarize some of the chapters’ content. There is also a timeline, bibliography, web sites and places to visit, a list of the author’s sources, and an index.
Illustrations:
The photographs are large and colorful, and the artifacts from the archaeological excavations are especially interesting (copper, coins, a silver tooth and ear pick).
Looks at Jamestown from the perspective of archaeological evidence and written records from its beginning in 1607 to roughly 1677. It is a gritty, honest history, detailing the dissension between the Colonists and the Native Americans, and the hunger, sickness, and struggling that the Colonists faced.
Personal Evaluation:
Very readable for upper elementary and middle school students, it is a brief account of complex history that is harsh and sad. I like the honesty of the content and the pictures from the archaeological findings and Jamestown reenactments.
Memorable Literary Element:
With the photographs are captions that summarize some of the chapters’ content. There is also a timeline, bibliography, web sites and places to visit, a list of the author’s sources, and an index.
Illustrations:
The photographs are large and colorful, and the artifacts from the archaeological excavations are especially interesting (copper, coins, a silver tooth and ear pick).
April 17, 2019
This was an awesome, informative look at a tired subject. Details on the Native Americans, Pocahontas and the setttlement & its problems that make it come alive. New discoveries lead to new history.
December 24, 2022
Not sure what I was expecting but not really what I got. Only 48 glossy pages, with very limited information and photos. Book was a start to further reading. A few pages at back with websites to get more informtion or books to read or places to visit. I did not realize it was part of the Childrens Section in the library, which explains a lot.
I do have another one coming that I may enjoy a bit more.
I do have another one coming that I may enjoy a bit more.
March 7, 2022
Quite a large bit of fake history, especially about the kidnapping, rape, and abuse of pocahontas. That and the constant use of the word Indian in reference to the indigenous people is jarring. I would not recommend this book for any truthful telling of history.
February 16, 2022
A very engaging and interesting look into one of the first colonies in America
March 10, 2017
A new look at Jamestown.
May 5, 2015
Personal reaction- I really liked this book. It has a very educational story as well as amazing photos. I also really liked how the book was organized; it would make it really helpful to students. I think that students will find this book really interesting. This book is also really interesting because it has a section talking about the Indians and I really like that.
Read aloud- This book would be a really good book to read aloud to students. It would be a good book to read aloud to students before Thanksgiving to lead into a discussion about the first settlers. This book could also be used to introduce a lesson on Jamestown as well.
Independent reading- This book would be a good book for students to read if they were doing a project on the first settlers of America or Jamestown. If students really like history they might enjoy reading this book around thanksgiving. A teacher would want to make sure that their students are mature enough to read this book before letting them read it because it does talk about the death aspect that took place at Jamestown.
Informational book- This is a really good book about Jamestown. The book contains a nice chronological list of events. The book also has a nice bibliography, list of websites that the author visited, and a list of sources for quotes and information. This makes it so we know that this book is pretty credible.
Read aloud- This book would be a really good book to read aloud to students. It would be a good book to read aloud to students before Thanksgiving to lead into a discussion about the first settlers. This book could also be used to introduce a lesson on Jamestown as well.
Independent reading- This book would be a good book for students to read if they were doing a project on the first settlers of America or Jamestown. If students really like history they might enjoy reading this book around thanksgiving. A teacher would want to make sure that their students are mature enough to read this book before letting them read it because it does talk about the death aspect that took place at Jamestown.
Informational book- This is a really good book about Jamestown. The book contains a nice chronological list of events. The book also has a nice bibliography, list of websites that the author visited, and a list of sources for quotes and information. This makes it so we know that this book is pretty credible.
August 3, 2020
Review from initial reading, August 2017:
4 stars
I read this to my nearly 8yo as part of a history lesson. We both found it informative. My son was particularly struck by the idea of a person being skinned alive. Luckily history has many such gems for children to learn about.
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Review from second reading, August 2020:
2 stars
1607 is a decent overview of the founding of Jamestown, with photos from Historic Jamestowne reenactment park and archaeological excavations. It leans a little heavily towards the "both were in the wrong" view of interactions between the settlers and the people already living there, which oversimplifies things I think, but for late-elementary-aged children, it's not bad read alongside other books about the time period.
4 stars
I read this to my nearly 8yo as part of a history lesson. We both found it informative. My son was particularly struck by the idea of a person being skinned alive. Luckily history has many such gems for children to learn about.
-------
Review from second reading, August 2020:
2 stars
1607 is a decent overview of the founding of Jamestown, with photos from Historic Jamestowne reenactment park and archaeological excavations. It leans a little heavily towards the "both were in the wrong" view of interactions between the settlers and the people already living there, which oversimplifies things I think, but for late-elementary-aged children, it's not bad read alongside other books about the time period.
February 8, 2010
Lots of great historical detail. I especially appreciate the explanations of the archaeological work that has been done on Jamestown in the past 15 years that has led to a better understanding of the settlers' lives. Many photographs of period reenactors, both settlers and Native Americans, as well as photographs of the archaeological sites. Focuses on 1607 to the 1620s, with a brief section on the Powhatan tribe's three-century-long fight for official recognition from Virginia's government and lessons learned from the Jamestown settlement.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
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March 22, 2010This book gives the reader information and a picture about life was like in Jamestown.
This book’s focus was on exposing the truth about the people at lived in Jamestown in the year 1607. The writer of this text looked to proved every point she made by using archeological findings. This approach made the reader feel as though they were reading something trust worthy from the first pages. Many of the pictures are of artifacts. When it is not of an artifact in the picture it is a reenactment. When that takes place, there is a caption for the picture explaining why they included it in the book. This book aims to show the reader a authentic picture of what Jamestown looked like.
This book’s focus was on exposing the truth about the people at lived in Jamestown in the year 1607. The writer of this text looked to proved every point she made by using archeological findings. This approach made the reader feel as though they were reading something trust worthy from the first pages. Many of the pictures are of artifacts. When it is not of an artifact in the picture it is a reenactment. When that takes place, there is a caption for the picture explaining why they included it in the book. This book aims to show the reader a authentic picture of what Jamestown looked like.
March 15, 2008
This is a great example of how the study of history changes with the years. It shows how recent archaeology at Jamestown has changed the way historians are interpreting our earliest American history. IT is an intelligent treatment of for children.
Give this book to anyone who thinks that history doesn't change!
Give this book to anyone who thinks that history doesn't change!
October 10, 2008
I'm teaching colonial life as well as nonfiction writing this coming quarter, so I read this book the other day. Kind of an interesting view into what Jamestown may have really been like, rather than the misconceptions we've always heard of. It seriously takes maybe 20 minutes to read (it's a kid's book, kind of), but I would say it was worth it.
December 27, 2015
This picture book describes early life in the Jamestown colony with the addition of a new perspective. Along with written primary sources, it draws on information from the archaeological digs conducted through the Jamestown Rediscovery Project. It's illustrated with photographs from the archaeological digs, artifacts, and people reenacting life in the colony.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews