Who Discovered America?

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Do you remember memorizing this phrase as a child? I certainly do. And while the phrase is accurate, there is much more debate about who really discovered the Americas than when I was a young scholar.

In a new book, Who Discovered America, Valerie Wyatt discusses many different groups that may have discovered the Americas, including the Europeans, the Vikings, and even the Chinese. Written for third through seventh graders, Who Discovered America investigates archaeological clues indicating the presence of people in the Americas throughout many centuries. The author encourages the reader to ask questions and to examine history with the mindset of a detective.

The format of this book is great for middle grade readers. The book includes illustrations, maps, timelines, and photographs of artifacts that inspire discovery and thoughtful reasoning. For 8-12 year olds, the investigative approach is particularly appealing. As a former teacher, I appreciated the main focus of the book: history is not simply dates and facts to be memorized, but a large puzzle that requires thoughtful consideration.

Because I know that many people differ in their beliefs about the age of the earth, I want to mention that this book presents a timeline of information dating back to 40,000 BC. I share this information simply as a help to those who may want to discuss the material in the book with their children.

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He landed on American shores. Read this book to discover more!