The Voyagers: Being Legends and Romances of Atlantic Discovery, by Padraic Colum

I was looking forward to this one after reading Padraic Colum's previous honor book, The Golden Fleece and the Heroes who Lived before Achilles. This one, although similar in format, works just as well because the formula still applies.

In the case of this book, Prince Henry of Portugal often looks over the ocean with a sense of adventure and a strong desire to explore the Atlantic Ocean. Men from all over Europe come to him to tell their tales of ocean voyages, which vary from the mythological (Atlantis) to the actual (Columbus). Without getting into long detail, the stories presented in a very enjoyable and readable fashion are:

• The Legend of Atlantis
• The Voyage of Maelduin (an Irish tale)
• The Voyages of Saint Brendan
• The Children of Eric the Red
• The Voyages and Explorations of Christopher Columbus and his Men

I would strongly recommend this one for any child (although this child is usually a boy in my mind's eye) who loves adventure stories. Also, with the immense popularity of the Percy Jackson series, mythological compilations such as this and Colum's other works could easily make a comeback. It's a shame many of them are out of print.