Status
Checked out
Call number
Publication
Dragonfly Books (1996), Edition: Second Printing, 30 pages
Description
Christopher Columbus overcomes a number of obstacles to fulfill his dream of sailing west to find a new route to the Orient.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Celebrated Czech-American artist Peter Sís, who was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2012 for his "lasting contribution" to the world of children's literature, turns in this beautiful picture-book to the story of Christopher Columbus. Inspired by the voyage of Marco Polo centuries
Today, as I write this review of Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus, it is Columbus Day, marking the 528th year since modern contact was made between the peoples of Europe and those of the Americas. It is a holiday that has become controversial of late, dividing opinion between those who feel we should not celebrate the day, given the disastrous consequences that first contact had for the native peoples of this hemisphere, and those who believe that, however flawed the man, he did achieve something unprecedented in human history, and laid the groundwork for the modern world we know today. Some cities have replaced Columbus Day with an 'Indigenous Peoples' Day,' while other communities continue to honor the great explorer. Complicating the matter is the fact that Columbus Day has become intertwined with Italian-American identity in many quarters, and is one of the few moments in the national calendar when this community is honored and remembered. For my part, I have little sympathy with the cultural and historical vandalism currently consuming the (so-called) left, but also have no interest in whitewashing history. I tend to believe that historical achievements should be remembered and honored, even when those who achieved them were far from perfect, recalling that old phrase that "we see further than our ancestors because we stand on their shoulders." With that in mind, and given my all-consuming interest in children's literature, I decided to read and review a number of different picture-book biographies of Christopher Columbus, as a means of marking the day. The titles I chose include David A. Adler's A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus (1991), Peter Sís' Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus (1991) and Demi's Columbus (2012).
Sís' Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus is the second of the three books I have read, after the Adler, and is very different in feeling. While that other title offered a outline view of Columbus' entire life, this one concentrates on the dream that drove Columbus, and concludes when his ships reach San Salvador, on his first historic voyage. Although this is still a biography, and does give a great deal of information, it is not a complete one, and is arranged around the theme of creative thinking and sticking to one's purpose, even when everyone around you thinks differently. There is no exploration of the consequences of Columbus' voyage for the native peoples of the Caribbean, or indeed, the peoples of Europe and the rest of the world. The book was first published in 1991, just in time to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first westward voyage in 1992, and reflects its creator's identification with that explorer's historic dream, as someone who himself came west, from his home in then Czechoslovakia, to live in the United States. Sís' author's note discusses this in greater detail, noting how many maps in Columbus' time showed Europe existing inside a great wall, something he (Sís) found deeply moving, given his own early life enclosed by the wall of the Iron Curtain. This is a much more sophisticated book than the Adler, and is as much about how we approach history, and make meaning from it, as about the history itself. I don't know that I would recommend it, by itself, as a biography of Columbus, but I think it could be paired very well with a fuller, more factual biography, perhaps the one by Demi, which I intend to read next. The accompanying artwork here, done in oil, ink, watercolor and gouache, is beautiful, and well deserving of its selection as one of The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books. Recommended to slightly older picture-book readers - six to seven, I would say - looking for stories about Columbus, and about exploring the world and following one's dreams.
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before, Columbus dreamed of sailing west in order to find new routes to the Indies and the Orient. He clung to this dream despite years of refusal from the various European monarchs whom he approached for support, and refused to give up, even when he was seemingly the only person who believed it was possible to find land by sailing west. Eventually, he gained the support he needed, sailing west in 1492, thereby making history and setting in motion events that would radically change the world...Today, as I write this review of Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus, it is Columbus Day, marking the 528th year since modern contact was made between the peoples of Europe and those of the Americas. It is a holiday that has become controversial of late, dividing opinion between those who feel we should not celebrate the day, given the disastrous consequences that first contact had for the native peoples of this hemisphere, and those who believe that, however flawed the man, he did achieve something unprecedented in human history, and laid the groundwork for the modern world we know today. Some cities have replaced Columbus Day with an 'Indigenous Peoples' Day,' while other communities continue to honor the great explorer. Complicating the matter is the fact that Columbus Day has become intertwined with Italian-American identity in many quarters, and is one of the few moments in the national calendar when this community is honored and remembered. For my part, I have little sympathy with the cultural and historical vandalism currently consuming the (so-called) left, but also have no interest in whitewashing history. I tend to believe that historical achievements should be remembered and honored, even when those who achieved them were far from perfect, recalling that old phrase that "we see further than our ancestors because we stand on their shoulders." With that in mind, and given my all-consuming interest in children's literature, I decided to read and review a number of different picture-book biographies of Christopher Columbus, as a means of marking the day. The titles I chose include David A. Adler's A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus (1991), Peter Sís' Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus (1991) and Demi's Columbus (2012).
Sís' Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus is the second of the three books I have read, after the Adler, and is very different in feeling. While that other title offered a outline view of Columbus' entire life, this one concentrates on the dream that drove Columbus, and concludes when his ships reach San Salvador, on his first historic voyage. Although this is still a biography, and does give a great deal of information, it is not a complete one, and is arranged around the theme of creative thinking and sticking to one's purpose, even when everyone around you thinks differently. There is no exploration of the consequences of Columbus' voyage for the native peoples of the Caribbean, or indeed, the peoples of Europe and the rest of the world. The book was first published in 1991, just in time to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first westward voyage in 1992, and reflects its creator's identification with that explorer's historic dream, as someone who himself came west, from his home in then Czechoslovakia, to live in the United States. Sís' author's note discusses this in greater detail, noting how many maps in Columbus' time showed Europe existing inside a great wall, something he (Sís) found deeply moving, given his own early life enclosed by the wall of the Iron Curtain. This is a much more sophisticated book than the Adler, and is as much about how we approach history, and make meaning from it, as about the history itself. I don't know that I would recommend it, by itself, as a biography of Columbus, but I think it could be paired very well with a fuller, more factual biography, perhaps the one by Demi, which I intend to read next. The accompanying artwork here, done in oil, ink, watercolor and gouache, is beautiful, and well deserving of its selection as one of The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books. Recommended to slightly older picture-book readers - six to seven, I would say - looking for stories about Columbus, and about exploring the world and following one's dreams.
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LibraryThing member aje3
This book tells the story of Christopher Colombus in a way that encourages young students to pursue their dreams. Afterall, Colombus was called crazy and had to live through two rejections from the king and queen of Spain before he was actually allowed to see his dreams become a reality. Even while
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sailing to "America," he was opposed by his own crew members who doubted him and wanted to throw him overboard. This book is valuable because it tells the history of Colombus, but it also encourages its readers to follow their dreams no matter what type of opposition they may face. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShellyCBuchanan
This is the story of how Christopher Columbus persevered in following his dream of adventure and discovery despite many, many rejections and set backs. Peter Sis traces Columbus' experiences of rejection and challenge by various potential sponsors and then his own crewmen. The expert and inspired
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illustrations -- of walls and monsters and dark nights at sea -- show the emotional rollercoaster such innovative adventurer would endure at the advent of the Renaissance. This is a treasure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Show Less
LibraryThing member crazy4reading
A nice easy read about Christopher Columbus and his dream for his voyage to the new world.
Peter Sis chronicles the steps that Christopher did to finally be able to make his voyage. Christopher was denied for years to be able to make the voyage.
Peter Sis chronicles the steps that Christopher did to finally be able to make his voyage. Christopher was denied for years to be able to make the voyage.
LibraryThing member smdorr
This book was very simple and I found it kind of generic. This might be appropriate for very small grades to introduce discovery and exploration. However, I did like the artwork it was very interesting and eyecatching.
LibraryThing member matthewbloome
This is an extremely simplistic biography of Columbus up to and suddenly concluding with his arrival in what he believed to be the Orient and the mention that he didn't know where he was. It does nothing to mention the subsequent back and forth journies he made between this new land and his
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patronage Spain. It doesn't mention what he did in this new land. It focuses instead on his perseverance with trying to charter a commission of ships from the king and queen of Spain. It's a well written primary text though it leaves so much out that you'd have to read a second or third biography on the same guy to get a true gist of who he was and what he was all about. Show Less
LibraryThing member ronicadibartolo
A true story of the courage Christopher Columbus had as he fought for his voyage across the Atlantic ocean. Nice to see a copy of what the written logs looked like. I would have never guessed they looked like that. Sad he never got credit for what he really found.
LibraryThing member vboch1
There are a few reasons why I like this book. The first reasons I liked it is because this nonfiction book was organized and accurate. It has truth in that it speaks about how Columbus was denied ships the first few times he went to ask the king and queen for them. The book even mentions the
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specific things that motivated Columbus to sail. The second reason I like the book is the illustrations. When the ships are mentioned there are images of what is stored inside of the ship. When the book talks about how Columbus kept a log while at sea, there are images of a log with pictures for each entry. The images throughout the book look interesting and different than pictures in many other children's books. The big idea of this book is to teach about the life of Christopher Columbus and what he accomplished in his lifetime. Show Less
LibraryThing member yelhsajoh
Summary: This book is a short description of Christopher Columus' journey to America. It discussed the trouble he had at first getting someone to believe that land lay to the west, and then went on to talk briefly about the journey to what he believed to be Japan, but was actually America.
Personal
Classroom Extensions:
1: Discuss locations of countries mentioned in the story, to better help kids understand.
2: Kids could reenact the book by dressing up and making their own ships. This could reinforce the history of it.
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Reaction: The pictures in the book were what made the book so good for me. It was a short story that got to the point, and was expanded through pictures. I liked it and think that kids would enjoy and understand it easily.Classroom Extensions:
1: Discuss locations of countries mentioned in the story, to better help kids understand.
2: Kids could reenact the book by dressing up and making their own ships. This could reinforce the history of it.
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LibraryThing member engpunk77
Nonfiction, straightforward, illustrated brief history of Columbus's determination to reach his goal. Persistence.
LibraryThing member wichitafriendsschool
With full-color illustrations, this book helps the 15th century come alive for young children. Simple text on each page gives basic facts about Christopher Columbus' exploration.
LibraryThing member themulhern
Almost simple enough to be classified as a children's picture book, rather than children's biography. Nice, though.
Subjects
Awards
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades 3-5 — 1993)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
30 p.; 9.25 inches
ISBN
0679880887 / 9780679880882