Lewis and Clark: Explorers of the American West - Softcover

Steven Kroll wrote his first story at the age of thirteen. He is now the author of many children's picture books, including Patches Lost and Found, Oh, Tucker!, The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, and Space Cats. He is also the author of John Quincy Adams: Letters from a Southern Planter's Son from Winslow Press's Dear Mr. President series. He and his wife, Kathleen Beckett, divide their time between New York City and Bucks County, Pennsylvania where he has written many of his books.

Richard Williams is a contributor for Holiday House Publishing, Inc. as illustrator titles including: "Lewis and Clark: Explorers of the American West."

The story of Lewis and Clark's 1804 exploration west of the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean abounds with elements relevant to our own time. Chronicling the plants and animals they saw, Lewis and Clark made among the first ecological observations of the land. They were white men encountering Native Americans and beginning- -albeit unknowingly--a difficult, deceit-ridden relationship that continues to this day. While the picture-book format and target reading level limit Kroll (By the Dawn's Early Light, p. 69, etc.) from expounding on his story in any great detail, he might have at least alluded to his subjects' wider significance. Instead, his delivery of Lewis and Clark's journey is flat, monochromatic, and stinting on details about which kids will wonder: ``In the event they ran out of food, [Lewis] had brought a thick, gooey `portable soup.' '' Neat name, what was in it? ``The Corps spent four tense days with [the Teton Sioux].'' Well, what happened? Similarly undynamic are the poses and facial expressions in Williams's oils: Even in action scenes--such as when the men haul their canoes through rapids--the figures look stiff and blank, with only a bit lip driving the idea of exertion home. This is a rich subject, but get a good encyclopedia entry and some reference-book art and create your own, more compelling treatment for your kids. (Nonfiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.