Encounter (Voyager Books)

I love the way Jane Yolen tackles tough topics in such an accessible way for young readers. It's a great book to help young people think through what has, what can, what could, and what should happen when cultures collide.When I taught Social Studies this was my go to book for discussions about some of the sad, somber outcomes of European exploration and greed. You can even draw connections between this story and other groups that are being currently displaced or disadvantaged by other groups' progress.Also the book contains a great deal of figurative language. When I used it for ELA, I would read a portion.It's a very long book to read in one sitting. And then later or the next day I would pick out sentences/phrases from the text and have students identify the type of figurative language.There are also several moments that require readers' to make inferencesThis is a strong mentor text, on so many levels.

I read an editorial from an elementary teacher about the use of this book for class. He uses them to speak to diversity. I do not see how this addresses indigenous diversity or should I say the difficulty of addressing the issue

great book for kids to learn about the true Christopher Columbus.

I bought this book to read with my 1st grader for Indigenous People's Day. It sparked a lot of really great conversations. The illustrations are beautiful and it provides a much needed perspective in a way that is easily understood by even young kids. We are thrilled to have this in our home library.

This is NOT a non-fiction book. Having said that, it was refreshing to hear the story of Columbus's first encounter with the "New World" from a different point of view and sparked age-appropriate conversations with my young reader. I would highly recommend adding this to your library.

I grant a child could very well be afraid of Columbus and his boats but this book goes too far in presenting a child's dream as the truth. The narrative is that the universe warned the child, the child knows better than the adults, white men are evil. I do wish we heard more perspectives but this seems like someone's made up CRT informed version of truth. It uses just enough fact and emotionalism to make readers swallow it whole.

If you teach exploration, this book is a perfect companion book! Pictures are amazing!

I have long since given away this work but I did read it an was impressed by it. My only "complaint" would be it does not condemn exploitive, slave mongering, family disruptive "religions" to the degree I feel would have been justified and appropriate. It does, I think, make us consider the effects slavery has on the family unit and how colonialism and perversion of "religion" may be a "bad thing." From the point of being 'non-threatening' and informative-great work.

Excellent book for teaching inferencing and grade 5 social studies.