In this section:
It probably doesn't need to be said, but there are, of course, many many books about Christopher Columbus that adults can share with children. The books we've selected though are practice readers that can be shared and then left for children to read for themselves.
In our first list of THE Easiest Practice readers -- which can be found here -- we listed the books that we found at the 1.2 to 1.8 Accelerated Reading levels.
The next group of books at the 2nd Grade reading level we have divided into two parts. Part I runs up to AR 2.5, and Part II goes from 2.6 to 2.9.
Notes:In our first list of THE Easiest Practice readers -- which can be found here -- we listed the books that we found at the 1.2 to 1.8 Accelerated Reading levels.
The next group of books at the 2nd Grade reading level we have divided into two parts. Part I runs up to AR 2.5, and Part II goes from 2.6 to 2.9.
- We couldn't track down every book, but we've pulled together what data we could, even if this was only the AR/Lexile levels and a brief note as to whether it's available in Spanish.
- Some of these books are out-of-print or near impossible to find. We've kept them in the list because you might run across them at your local library.
- If you are curious about which book is our current favorite, it is Stephen Krensk's book which appears in Part II.
Pam T
Somewhere in the X-burbs
Christopher Columbus
(Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers: Biographies)
by Lisa Wade McCormick
Notes: Unfortunately there is little information available on this, the easiest book on our list. I could locate no except pages nor snippets of text.
Book Information:::
Word Count: 274
Paperback: 24 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 102894
Lexile: 480L
Christopher Columbus
by Lola M. Schaefer
Notes: Our local libraries don't carry this book, however, I can say that Ms. Schaefer usually does a solid job with her biographies, paying special attention to making the target figures 'accessible'.
In the books I've read in this series there is a picture or illustration on every other page, with text facing it. Underneath is a time line with important dates that gradually accrue.
I think this book is likely worth a look.
Book Information:::
Word Count: 260
Paperback: 24 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 56265
Notes: This is one of those hard-to-find volumes we warned you about. If your library has this one, we'd love to hear your opinion of it.
Book Information:::
Paperback: 48 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.4/ points: 0.5
AR quiz: 19064
Columbus Day
(Rookie Read-About Holidays)
by Christina Mia Gardeski
Official Description: This book explains the significance and traditions of Columbus Day.
Notes: Sometimes you can get an idea of what a book is like from Amazon's Look Inside feature. Not so in this case. Images pop up that look intriguing, but the publisher's sample provides only one page with text and all it says is 'Are You an Explorer'. Not promising.
Book Information:::
Word Count: 329
Paperback: 32 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 61185
Lexile: 350L
Book Information:::
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 89545
Lexile: 250L
also available as Vamos a leer sobre...Cristobal Colon
Say Hola, Sarah
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Official Description: Caramba! Sarah Cole can't believe it. Benjamin Bean has wrecked her whole weekend. In front of the whole class, he told Mrs. Halfpenny that Sarah would do a report on Columbus with him. But Sarah doesn't know one thing about Columbus. Now how can she work on her Spanish notebook with Sarah Ortiz? How can she have fun at the Columbus Day party at the Library? Luckily Columbus Day brings all kinds of surprises, including a visit from Anna's cousin from Columbia.
Notes: This is one of those that is going to be difficult to track down. I will also note that it didn't get very good reviews at GoodReads.
Book Information:::
Paperback: 80 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5/ points: 0.5
AR quiz: 13887
Coming in Part II
Book Information:::
Word Count: 274
Paperback: 24 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 102894
Lexile: 480L
- Publisher: Children's Press (2005)
- ISBN-10: 051624938X (hardback) 0516247816 (paper)
-- amazon
Christopher Columbusby Lola M. Schaefer
Notes: Our local libraries don't carry this book, however, I can say that Ms. Schaefer usually does a solid job with her biographies, paying special attention to making the target figures 'accessible'.
In the books I've read in this series there is a picture or illustration on every other page, with text facing it. Underneath is a time line with important dates that gradually accrue.
I think this book is likely worth a look.
Book Information:::
Word Count: 260
Paperback: 24 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 56265
- Publisher: Capstone Press (2006)
- ISBN-10: 0736893687
-- amazon
Christopher Columbus: A Great Explorer
by Carol GreeneNotes: This is one of those hard-to-find volumes we warned you about. If your library has this one, we'd love to hear your opinion of it.
Book Information:::
Paperback: 48 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.4/ points: 0.5
AR quiz: 19064
- Publisher: Childrens Press (1989)
- ISBN-10: 051644204X
-- amazon (ridiculously priced)
Columbus Day
(Rookie Read-About Holidays)
by Christina Mia Gardeski
Official Description: This book explains the significance and traditions of Columbus Day.
Notes: Sometimes you can get an idea of what a book is like from Amazon's Look Inside feature. Not so in this case. Images pop up that look intriguing, but the publisher's sample provides only one page with text and all it says is 'Are You an Explorer'. Not promising.
Book Information:::
Word Count: 329
Paperback: 32 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 61185
Lexile: 350L
- Publisher: Children's Press (2000)
- ISBN-10: 0516263102
-- amazon
Let's Read About... Christopher Columbus
(Scholastic First Biographies)Notes: Another Scholastic biography, the most we can say about this one is that you can buy it for a penny and it's got a Spanish version. (We need excerpts!)
Book Information:::
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 89545
Lexile: 250L
- Publisher: Scholastic Trade (2001)
- ISBN-10: 0439295467
-- amazon
also available as Vamos a leer sobre...Cristobal Colon
- Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (2002)
- ISBN-10: 0439409837
- -- amazon
Say Hola, Sarah
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Official Description: Caramba! Sarah Cole can't believe it. Benjamin Bean has wrecked her whole weekend. In front of the whole class, he told Mrs. Halfpenny that Sarah would do a report on Columbus with him. But Sarah doesn't know one thing about Columbus. Now how can she work on her Spanish notebook with Sarah Ortiz? How can she have fun at the Columbus Day party at the Library? Luckily Columbus Day brings all kinds of surprises, including a visit from Anna's cousin from Columbia.
Notes: This is one of those that is going to be difficult to track down. I will also note that it didn't get very good reviews at GoodReads.
Book Information:::
Paperback: 80 pages
Accelerated Reading level: 2.5/ points: 0.5
AR quiz: 13887
- Publisher: Yearling (1995)
- ISBN-10: 0440410770
-- amazon
Coming in Part II
