Christopher Columbus (Step into Reading, Step 3, Grades 1-3)
Grade 1-3-- Describing Columbus's first voyage, Krensky writes in the present tense and asks a number of questions, such as "What if the wind stops blowing?" to make readers aware of the reasons for the sailors' fears and of Columbus's courage in attempting the trip. He includes some facts about the crew and shipboard life. The writing is clear and objective, with no fictionalization. It is less choppy than many beginning readers, but is easy enough for the intended audience. Green's watercolor illustrations include maps showing the world of 1492 and that of today. Unfortunately some of the colors are poorly reproduced, so that the Indians and several of the Spaniards appear to have blue hair. Vicki Liestman's Columbus Day (Carolrhoda, 1991) contains more information about the reasons for the voyage and the Spaniards' treatment of the Indians. Krensky's book adds little that is new to the growing body of books about Columbus, but it is an acceptable purchase for collections in which there is a demand for easy biographies. --Jean H. Zimmerman, Willett School, South River, NJCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.