O'Brien, Cynthia

Describes what it was like to travel down the Mississippi River with French explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet. Highlights where they went, why and how they got there, and what went right and wrong. Includes a timeline, fact boxes, a glossary, resources for further information, and color illustrations.

Instructs young readers in how to read a map that shows the climate and weather of the Earth. Discusses global climate, climate change, and weather patterns.

As settlers came west, they discovered there were already people living on this "new" land, discover how this mass invasion of settlers impacted the indigenous peoples of the West.

In a newspaper-style format, discusses the hard lives of miners in the Rockies, the desperation of prospectors searching for riches in the gold rushes, the dangerous life of logging in the forests of the Northwest, and what life was like trapping for furs.

Follows the adventures of French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who explored the Great Lakes and helped develop the French fur trade.

Follows the travels of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.

Follows the travels of Italian explorer John Cabot, born Giovanni Caboto, who moved to England and got King Henry VII to back an expedition across the Atlantic, where Cabot found what is now Canada. Eager to discover more, Cabot soon set sail on another voyage -- never to be heard from again.

Presents a full-color illustrated look at Christopher Columbus and his explorations. Discusses conditions aboard his ships, the people he encountered, weather conditions, and Columbus' death and legacy. Features maps, a timeline, fact boxes, quotes, writing activities, a glossary, and further resources.