History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People
by Kate Messner (Author) Falynn Koch (Illustrator)
Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. Perfect for fans of the I Survived books and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean and discovered America. Right? WRONG! Columbus never actually set foot in what is now the United States. His voyages took him to islands in the Caribbean and along the coast of South America.
The truth is, when Columbus first arrived, Indigenous peoples, including the Taino, had been living there for thousands of years, raising their families, running their societies, and trading with their neighbors. He didn't "discover" the lands at all! And his name? Not even really Christopher Columbus! Cowritten by bestselling author Kate Messner and our country's premier Taino scholar, this fascinating addition to the series is the one that teachers have been asking for and that kids need to read.
Discover the nonfiction series that demolishes everything you thought you knew about history. Don't miss History Smashers: The Mayflower, Women's Right to Vote, and Pearl Harbor.
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School Library Journal
Gr 3-7--Messner continues her "History Smashers" nonfiction series with this eighth installment about the infamous Christopher Columbus and his encounters with the Taínos, one of the Indigenous groups that lived in the Caribbean for thousands of years before 1492. Coauthored by Taíno scholar Barreiro, this volume thoroughly bursts the bubble of any Columbus defenders who venerate the explorer for supposedly discovering the Americas. This outing organizes the history by Columbus's four voyages, detailing his quest to find a route to Asia and his multiple failures to do so. Along the way, readers learn about how actively involved he was in the fashioning and falsifying of his own narrative and how he used the recently created Gutenberg printing press to propagate the lies that have been taught in our history textbooks. The engaging design captures the humorous tone of the work. Peppered throughout with Koch's comics-style panels and funny but educational asides, this highly visual package offers a layered and well-rounded presentation of the true nature of the "Age of Exploration" and the genocide of an entire group of people. Reproductions, photos, maps, a time line focusing on the Taínos, recommended reading, and a bibliography back up the ample research. With witty text and entertaining sidebars that add context, this highly illustrated myth-buster will entice reluctant readers and history buffs alike. VERDICT Libraries will want to add where Nathan Hale's "Hazardous Tales," and the previous "History Smashers" are popular. This accessible curricular tie-in is perfect for history units.--Shelley M. Diaz
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
"With witty text and entertaining sidebars that add context, this highly illustrated myth-buster will entice reluctant readers and history buffs alike." -School Libray Journal
JNF018040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - Native American
JNF025080 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Exploration & Discovery
Travel
Explorers
Spain
Discovery and exploration
Taino Indians
America
Spanish
Columbus, Christopher
Illustrated works
Informational works
First contact with other peoples
