Illustrated by paintings, drawings, and historical and contemporary maps, this volume consists of short chapters outlining the life of Christopher Columbus. Although it supposedly focuses on October 12, 1492, the date of Columbus"s landing in the Americas, the book is actually a more general biography of Columbus, from his birth and early voyages to his death in 1506. Columbus"s voyages are placed in the context of other explorers" work. Unfortunately, even in the short chapter on "Legacy of Columbus," the book falls short of discussing ongoing controversies about Columbus and other voyagers to the New World, particularly with regard to native peoples and slavery. A timeline outlines key dates in Columbus"s life, and a selective glossary and index are also included. This is a volume in the "Dates with History" series. 2004, Smart Apple Media, Ages 9 to 12.