by Jean Fritz
First published 1992
Six distinguished children's authors collaborate to reveal what life looked like around the globe in 1492. Jean Fritz, Katherine Paterson, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, Margaret Mahy, and Jamake Highwater each take readers to different regions of the world during this pivotal year. The book explores the histories and customs of various peoples, from their religious beliefs to their daily routines. Readers discover how people lived, worked, and understood their world before the collision of continents that would follow. Rather than focusing solely on European exploration, the authors present a global perspective on this moment in time. The book reveals the rich diversity of human experience across cultures and continents, showing young readers that 1492 marked not just the beginning of one story, but a moment when many different civilizations were thriving with their own traditions and ways of life.
Genres: history, world-history, non-fiction
Vibes: educational, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: diverse-perspectives, educational-narrative
Setting: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America
Period: 1492
168 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt & Co