History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. Perfect for fans of the I Survived books and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.

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.

Discover the nonfiction series that demolishes everything you thought you knew about history. Don’t miss History Smashers: The Mayflower, Women's Right to Vote, and Pearl Harbor.

Series Overview: PUB PLAN: Summer 2020: (#1)The Mayflower, (#2) Women's Right to Vote * Spring 2021: (#3) Pearl Harbor, (#4) Titanic * Summer 2021: (#5) American Revolution * Fall 2021: (#6) Plagues and Pandemics * Summer 2022 (#7) Underground Railroad * Summer 2023: (#8) Christopher Columbus and the Taino People MORE TO COME! (Salem Witch, anyone?)

About the Author

KATE MESSNER is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books, like Over and Under the Snow; novels, like Breakout and Chirp; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series and the popular Ranger in Time chapter books; and works of nonfiction with a focus on nature and history.

JOSÉ BARREIRO is a Cuban-born American writer, journalist, and former professor of Native American studies at Cornell University. He is a member of the Taíno Nation of the Antilles.

Author Residence: Plattsburgh, New York