Exploring the Americas

For kids interested in the key actors in the drama, this issue is replete with details about the what, when, and where of their exploits. The “who” includes well-known players such as Christopher Columbus and Hernando Cortés as well as Vespucci, Verrazzano, and many more.

Visually oriented kids will enjoy the many maps depicting the explorers’ voyages and regions of European control. Sequentially oriented kids will have fun delving into the time lines of important events from 1492 to 1620. Tech kids will want to read about the technology that made the voyages possible from the compass to the sextant to the chromometer and more. Kids who want more details can follow the adventures of Balbao, Cartier, and others by diving into the lively text. In the end, kids will develop a keen appreciation of how the movement of people between continents changed world cultures and ecosystems forever.