Book Guide

Most boys and girls in Grade 5 can read this book themselves. Those in Grades 4 to 9 will find it of compelling interest from beginning to end.

How big was this New World? Was it just a narrow strip of land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?

In 1670 no one knew the answers to these questions. Perhaps the settlers on the east coast were too busy to spend much time wondering.

It was not so with Jacques Marquette, the missionary from France. Almost as great as his love for the New World was his curiosity about it. Wondering about its size was not enough for him. He set out to learn for himself.

From the Indians he discovered that there was a Big River to the west. Perhaps this Big River, that some tribes called the Mississippi, emptied into the Pacific Ocean. If he found that it did, what a great discovery that would be! 

Jim Kjelgaard, in The Explorations of Père Marquette, tells the story of the missionary's travels and discoveries. Along with it he gives us vivid pictures of life among the Indians.

Traveling with Père Marquette are the laughing, hardy voyageurs whose knowledge and skill made his explorations possible. Here, too, is Louis Joliet, Marquette's good friend and companion in discovery.

The exploration of the Mississippi River by Marquette and Joliet was a long step forward in the growing knowledge of the New World. To read about it in Jim Kjelgaard's story is to relive the wonder that the discoverers must have felt as they pushed their canoes down waterways that had never before been seen by white men.

From the dust jacket

To view an example page please sign in.

Sign In




Not a member yet? Start your Free Trial

Jim Kjelgaard

Jim Kjelgaard

(Pronounced Kyell-gard)
1910 - 1959
American
Although JIM KJELGAARD pronounces his name in the Danish way, Kyell-gard, his boyhood was as American as Tom Sawyer's. A great grandson of the man w... See more
Stephen J. Voorhies

Stephen J. Voorhies

1898 -
American
Stephen J. Voorhies was born in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn of Dutch pioneer stock. He grew up in rural surroundings little changed from the d... See more

Please sign in to access the type of illustrations and view more books with this type.

Sign In




Not a member yet? Start your Free Trial

To view reprints of this book please sign in.

Sign In




Not a member yet? Start your Free Trial

Content Guide

Please sign in to access all of the topics associated with this book and view other books with the same topics.

Sign In




Not a member yet? Start your Free Trial

Please sign in to access the locations this book takes place in and view other books in the same location.

Sign In




Not a member yet? Start your Free Trial

Please sign in to access the time periods this book takes place in and view other books in the same time period.

Sign In




Not a member yet? Start your Free Trial

For information about the lead characters please sign in.

Sign In




Not a member yet? Start your Free Trial

Resource Guide

Plumfield Moms Podcast
Podcast

Landmark Books: What They Are and Why They Matter
Released in 2022 by Plumfield Moms Podcast
Available formats: Streaming Audio
Length: 52 min.
View on the Plumfield Moms Podcast site

Two-part episode hosted by Podcast Moms with guests Sandy Hall (Hall's Living Library), Jill Morgan (Purple House Press), and Tanya Arnold (Biblioguides) where they discuss the Landmark series, how they came to be and why they are worth adding to a home library.


Reviews

Semicolon

The Explorations of Pere Marquette by Jim Kjelgaard
Reviewed by Sherry Early
Because Father Marquette worked among the Indian tribes in Michigan and Wisconsin and was also one of the first Europeans and Christians to minister to the Illinois Indians and the first to camp near the site of the present-day of Chicago, this book would make an excellent addition to the study of the state histories of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan . . .

Read the full review on Semicolon