The Great Expedition of Lewis and Clark: By Private Reubin Field, Member of the Corps of Discovery

Title: The Great Expedition of Lewis and Clark: By Private Reubin Field, Member of the Corps of Discovery
Author: Judith Edwards
Major Themes: Lewis and Clark, Exploration, Louisiana Purchase, Sacagawea, Picture Books, US History 1783-1860
Synopsis: The story of Lewis and Clark’s expedition is told by one of the men who went along.

Here is yet another wonderful picture book about a historical event! I really liked The Great Expedition of Lewis and Clark, narrated by one of the members of the Corps of Discovery. This beautiful book describes all the highlights of the famous trip with an engaging story and beautiful illustrations.

Reubin begins his reminiscences as he is working on his farm in Kentucky. No one would believe the adventures he has had in his lifetime (well, except the 30 or so other people who experienced them with him!). Things like finding the sandbar disappearing in the night. Or buffalo running through the camp at night. He had signed up for adventure with Lewis and Clark—and he got it!

First, he had to become a soldier, which wasn’t so fun, but then the adventure began. Reubin tells all about pushing keelboats up the river and spending the winter in an Indian village. Then, they went up another river and searched for Indians. That was when Sacagawea found her long-lost brother and helped get them some horses. The second winter, of course, was spent on the Pacific coast—and then they had to get back home as fast as possible. The whole story is told with a dry sense of humor that I loved!

The Great Expedition of Lewis and Clark is one not to miss. If you are going to be learning about Lewis and Clark, be sure to read this book if you can find it. It’s out of print, but there are a number of copies available. I got one from the library, but I would love to have it on my own shelf. The paintings are wonderful, and I loved the little details around the edges of the pages, too.

No warnings!

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Related posts:

Lewis and Clark: A Prairie Dog for the President Journey of York The Wild West: 1804-1990 How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis & Clark