Good Books about Columbus
- The 4 Easiest Practice Readers

the Santa Maria

There are four books we located at the Accelerated Reading 1-Level. The first two are by Melinda Lilly and are identical except that one is in English, while it's sister volume is in Spanish. Both of these books by Rourke Publishing are out-of-print in the true meaning of the phrase (ie., not readily available, put on your safari hat), but your local or school library might have them.

Book #3 by Jane Kurtz can be had currently for as little as a penny, and Book #4 is affordable as well, and currently eligible for Amazon's 4-for-3 promotion if you are stocking up a classroom. (We don't suggest purchasing such easy books unless you have a classroom or plan to pass them on. Kids just pass through the Level 1's so quickly.)


bookcover of Journey of Columbus
Out of Print -- difficult to find


Journey Of Columbus

by Melinda Lilly

This one is also available as an audio book. I listened to part of it and it was absolutely awful so I don't suggest you go that route. The reading was mechanical :(

Suggest this one as a Library Find only, regardless of format.

Book Information:::
Word Count: 81
Paperback: 24 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 1.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 61613
    Publisher: Rourke Publishing (2003)
    ISBN-10: 1589526171
    -- amazon

Out of Print -- difficult to find
Spanish Version: Viaje De Colon


bookcover of  What Columbus Found
What Columbus Found: It Was Orange, It Was Round
by Jane Kurtz

This one uses rhymes to talk about how Columbus discovered the Americas. It also introduces the idea of how new foods -- like tasty pumpkins -- were discovered and brought back to the Europe!

Book Information:::
Word Count: 199
Paperback: 32 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 1.6 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 120179
    Publisher: Simon Spotlight (2007)
    ISBN-10: 068986762X
    -- amazon

bookcover of  My First Biography: Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus (My First Biography)
by Marion Dane Bauer
Liz Goulet Dubois (Illustrator)

The emphasis in this one appears to be 'following your dreams'. Columbus, after all, dreamed of adventure and ended up making a great discovery.


Book Information:::
Paperback: 32 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 1.8/ points: 0.5
AR quiz: 138793
    Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (2010)
    ISBN-10: 0545142326
    -- amazon

compiled by Pam T