Author: Steven Otfinoski
Published: 2007
Pages: 72
Review:
In the early sixteen hundreds, the English explorer Henry Hudson sailed many territories from Europe to find a passage to the East. At first sailing for the English Muscovy Company and then later contracting with the Dutch, he sailed a total of four voyages.
In Hudson's plan of finding a passage to the East, he anticipated sailing over the North Pole, which in those days was thought to have a warmer climate since it was at the top of the world. Finding nothing but ice, he and his crew were forced to go back. It wasn't until 1909 that Robert E. Peary and Matthew Henson reached the North Pole.
Hudson made a major contribution to the whaling industry when he discovered large whale populations in the Atlantic Ocean at Spitsbergen. This led to a very lucrative whaling industry for the Europeans.
On his final voyage, Hudson reaches what is today named Hudson Bay. Although a very talented explorer and seaman, he had a few faults in choosing some of his crew members. This ultimately led to a sad ending for Hudson. Sometime in June of 1611, his crew mutinies and leaves him and a few other crew members, along with his son, on a small boat. They were never heard from again.
My thoughts:
Cruising the Biography section of the children's area at the library has been a real eye-opener. There are just so many interesting people and fascinating stories! I had a lot of fun reading this book aloud to my toddler. I was just so intrigued. If asked on a trivia question, I never would have guessed that the North Pole wasn't even reached until 1909. And the mutiny, oh my goodness! Well, grab a life vest and check this one out. You are in for a real adventure!
xoxo,
Kelly
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