The Lewis and Clark Expedition

by Jessica S. Gunderson, Charles Barnett III (Illustrator), Steve Erwin (Illustrator)

In this epic graphic novel, follow the dramatic story of  the Lewis and Clark expedition. In 1804, these two explorers, along with their "Corps of Discovery," traversed the unmapped American West, leading to scientific discoveries, interactions with Native nations, and route to the Pacific Ocean. Dramatic illustrations and fast-paced text provide a "you-are-there" experience. With extensive back matter, including a bibliography, extended reading list, glossary, and further Internet sources, young readers will gobble up this action-packed comic book about one of history's most compelling moments.

Genres: Graphic Novels, History, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Morgan Mayfield]

The Lewis and Clark Expedition paperback graphic novel is perfect for 3rd-4th graders. It is a history based graphic book, based in the early 1800’s. It comes from the discovery of the unmapped American West world.

This novel is perfect for a classroom history lesson. The real illustrations make it feel like you are really there in all the action with Lewis and Clark. I think that using this in a classroom would really benefit the kids in their learning.

[Elena P]

As Lewis and Clark travel around the world, they meet lots of characters including a little baby named Pompey.

[Scott Lutzke]

Lewis and Clark. The two guys everyone has heard about in history, but honestly never really got the full picture of what they all did and faced, just the fact of that they crossed half of the U.S. by foot and horse. After reading this book you get a better understanding on what all happened. It all starts in the beginning of April 1803, The United States, under President Thomas Jefferson, purchased 828,000 square miles of land from France. Commonly known as the Louisiana Purchase. The land purchased was all west of the Mississippi River, and due to the fact that it was mostly unexplored by U.S. and France at the time, President Jefferson requested that Congress approve for an exploratory expedition west. Once approved President Jefferson choose Captain Meriwether Lewis as its leader and Lewis decided he wanted a co-captain and selected William Clark.
The goals for the expedition, were to study the Native American tribes living in the area as well as the plants, animals, geology and terrain of the region, plus President Jefferson wanted the expedition to find a direct waterway to the West Coast and the Pacific Ocean so westward expansion would be easier in the coming years. Lewis and Clark's expedition began on May 21, 1804. Through out their journey they battled many obstacles and situations that most people these days could never face from fighting and dodging animals to meeting new people and making friends, a quote Clark said was, "These are the vilest miscreants of the savage race, and must ever remain the pirates of the Missouri, until such measures are pursued, by our government, as will make them feel a dependence on it". He was referrring to the Teton Sioux indians.Also on the same topic a quote that was said was "The Big Bellies and Wetersoons are at war with the Snake Indians and Sioux, and they were at war with the Arikaras until we made peace a few days past. The Mandans are at war with all who make war only, and wish to be at peace with all nations. Seldom the aggressors," So that just tells you right there, that it wasn't all a walk in the park. They had enemies and they had to watch their backs because they were steping on Indian territory and anything could happen. As the story goes on they must divide, and continue on canoes down the Rocky Mountains threw the Snake River to the Columbia River into which they last reached the Pacific Ocean in December 1805... To wait out the winter they built Fort Clatsop on the south side of the Columbia River. While they were there they explored the area, hunted, met Native Americans and got ready for their way home. On March 23, 1806, Lewis and Clark Began there way home.
My thought and stance on the book was when I started the book Lewis and Clark I thought this book was very boring and waste of my time and money to read but after I got done reading it I honestly thought to myself that this book wasn't so bad because it told a lot about there journey and what they all did and endured. Things like that interest me and want to make me keep reading page after page. It made me wonder how they could make through the harsh winters, hunger, sickness and some Indian attacks. Could we do this today? I don't think so we are used to so many luxeries most of us could not make it a day. In a way the author puts you on a journey its self the way he worded the text and put you in depth with the story almost as you were there and felt what they felt, and that what set you aside from reading a good or bad book. So all in all this book is a much preferred book.