"Tales About America and Australia" by Samuel G. Goodrich is a fascinating account of history, geography and culture of two countries on either side of the globe. Goodrich uses the name Peter Parley to narrate these tales, making them an instant hit ... Read more

"Tales About America and Australia" by Samuel G. Goodrich is a fascinating account of history, geography and culture of two countries on either side of the globe. Goodrich uses the name Peter Parley to narrate these tales, making them an instant hit for children and young adults looking for a gripping account of voyages, discoveries and beautiful descriptions of Australia and America. Goodrich takes the reader through the exciting journeys of Christopher Columbus and Pizarro among other well-known voyagers. "Tales About America and Australia" is spread across multiple chapters with a substantial chunk on Columbus' voyages and encounters in the New World. Goodrich is able to deconstruct rather complex historical accounts into simple narratives that retain the essence of that era while keeping the language simple and easy to understand. Goodrich keeps the reader enticed with an intelligent selection of tales that bring out the anxiety, nervous energy and uncertainty of discovering new places and people. The book is full of illustrations that help contextualizing particular incidents and events described in the narrative. Even though a lesser portion of the book deals with Australia, it is this particular section which contains within it some great trivia and detailed analysis of native inhabitants, flora, fauna and culture of the newly discovered country. While Tales About America and Australia is an excellent piece of work for young adults to appreciate the discovery of new lands, it is by no means a book meant for children alone. It has within it, hidden treasures of information which can be immensely entertaining not just for the young but adult readers as well.   Less