A Picture Book of Lewis and Clark by David A. Adler #29

Adler, David A. (2003). A Picture Book of Lewis and Clark. New York: Holiday House

Grades: K – 3

Book Type: Picture, Partial Biography

Illustrator: Ronald Himler

Author Credibility: The author provided a bibliography of books that were used for the information provided in this book. They also acknowledge three people – David S. Lavender (author), Dr. Joseph Mussulman, and Bob Moore (park historian of the Jefferson National Expansion) – for their contributions.

Awards: 2004 Notable Social Studies Tradebook

Summary:
This is a picture book that tells of Lewis and Clark`s expedition where they explored the land west of the Mississippi River. The beginning of the book gives information about each of their lives. Lewis and Clark both had met while serving in the army. After Thomas Jefferson appointed Lewis to lead the expedition, Clark answered the call to help with it. The Corps, the name given to the mission and explorers involved, began on May 14, 1804. Along with them, were Sacagawea and Charbonneau who helped interpret when needed. Throughout their journey, they sent reports back to Thomas Jefferson on the animals, plants, and the Indians they had encountered along the way. In November of 1805, the Corps reached the Pacific Ocean finally. Lewis and Clark were real heroes, because of their successful exploration of the west. They had become real American pioneers. This book had a narrative tone, and the facts were presented in a simplistic manner.

Standards: Time, Continuity, and Change; People, Places, and Environments

Illustrations: The illustrations appear to be drawings that have been painted to give off a canvas-like appearance. There are many two-page spreads of the illustrations that give the reader a view of what it was like for Lewis and Clark during their expedition. Also, a map is provided in the book that outlines the course that Lewis and Clark traveled to reach the Pacific Ocean.

Access Features: Author`s note, timeline, bibliography, and related websites

Classroom Use: I would use this book in my classroom to discuss how expeditions like Lewis and Clark`s were very important to understanding what exactly was out there in terms of the undiscovered lands of the west. Their expedition played an important role in providing information about the land, animals, plants, and Indians of the west of the Mississippi River. It would be important to discuss how there were no maps of this area at the time, so expeditions like these were the only way to gather information.

Response: I thought this was a great book that offered information about Lewis and Clark in a simplistic way. It would be a great read for young readers. Also, I thought the illustrations were very beautiful.

Related Texts:
A Picture Book of Sacagawea by David A. Adler
Lewis and Clark: Explorers of the American West by Steven Kroll
Off the Map: The Journals of Lewis and Clark by Peter and Connie Roop
Lewis and Clark by Conrad Stein