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History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People — Content Guide for Parents

By Kate Messner; Jose BarreiroRandom House Digital Inc.ISBN 9780593564288224 pages
History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People

Found in this book

  • ViolenceSupporting
  • Race & cultureCentral

Not found

  • Scary content
  • Religion
  • Climate
  • Sexual content
  • Gender roles

Couldn't confirm

  • Profanity
  • Gender & orientation
  • Profanity: The sources do not mention swearing in this history book.
  • Gender & orientation: The sources describe the book's history content but do not say whether LGBTQ+ characters or topics appear.

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.

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Religion

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

Myths! Lies! Historic boat trips? Beloved author and educator Kate Messner sets sail to discover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean and discovered America. Right? WRONG! Columbus never actually set foot in what is now the United States. His voyages took him to islands in the Caribbean and along the coast of South America.  The truth is, when Columbus first arrived, Indigenous peoples, including the Taino, had been living there for thousands of years, raising their families, running their societies, and trading with their neighbors. He didn’t “discover” the lands at all! And his name? Not even really Christopher Columbus! Cowritten by bestselling author Kate Messner and our country’s premier Taino scholar, this fascinating addition to the series is the one that teachers have been asking for and that kids need to read. Ready to bust new myths? Check out more titles in the History Smashers series: The Mayflower • The Titanic • The American Revolution • Women's Right to Vote

Frequently asked questions

  • Is History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    A School Library Journal review says the book covers the genocide of the Taino people, and the table of contents and keywords point to enslavement, capture and disease. The book is about Columbus's arrival among the Taino and other Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, their culture, and the genocide and enslavement they suffered.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have violence?

    Found (Supporting): A School Library Journal review says the book covers the genocide of the Taino people, and the table of contents and keywords point to enslavement, capture and disease.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have scary content?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have religion?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have race & culture?

    Found (Central): The book is about Columbus's arrival among the Taino and other Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, their culture, and the genocide and enslavement they suffered.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have profanity?

    Couldn't confirm: The sources do not mention swearing in this history book.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have climate?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have sexual content?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have gender roles?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People have gender & orientation?

    Couldn't confirm: The sources describe the book's history content but do not say whether LGBTQ+ characters or topics appear.

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