Adventures of the Treasure Fleet: China Discovers the World

Ok, but not much depth.

Nearly a century before Magellan and da Gama, the Chinese sent out fleets of enormous junks under Admiral Cheng Ho to explore the Indian ocean and trade with Africa. This is the children's version of the story, but it's a good way to introduce people to a nearly-unknown story.

This book combines heroic feats of diplomacy with stylish drawings and a page-by-page narrative to bring children a greater awareness of Chinese excellence.Text along the bottom of the page offers more detail and quotes from? Zheng? He? The notes on the book do not give sources for the quotes.Nice map in the end papers.

Great simple presentation of one of those topics our history teachers never seem to cover

I've read a good bit about China. But, I've never even heard of Admiral Zheng He. So embarrassing. In Adventures of the Treasure Fleet: China Discovers the World, Ann Bowler does a great job teaching children all of us about the amazing story (think pirates and storms!) of seven voyages of more than 300 gigantic ships that sailed across the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean to the coast of Africa and back again in the early 1400s. At each port, China's porcelain and silks were traded for jewels, herbs, and medicines as well as all sorts of treasures as gifts to the Chinese emperor from the leaders of faraway lands. Love the illustrations as well as the layout--reading like a fiction story at the top and other text reading like an encyclopedia at the bottom. You'll get a lot out of this one. (And, for families with a tie to Nanjing, that's where the ships were built and started out)If you want to read my reviews of 35 kids books having to do with China, visit my 7.2.2012 post on myoverthinking(dot)com

ADVENTURES OF THE TREASURE FLEET is much more than a picture book. It is a chapter in world history--85 years before Columbus--that is rarely told. How have we missed the 6'tall Admiral Zheng He's incredible voyages in 300 huge Chinese ships, each the size of football fields? And pirates too! Ann Martin Bowler's detailed research and Lak-Khee Ty-Auduoard's wonderful art have made history an exciting adventure!

Readers of Ann Bowler's Gecko's Complaint who have longed for more of her work will not be disappointed by Adventures of the Treasure Fleet, historical fiction based on a true story of fifteenth-century China. Another beautifully illustrated book for children, Adventures of the Treasure Fleet introduces a piece of history many do not know.Bowler tells the story on two levels. The children's story, accompanied by Tay-Audouard's gently imaginative pencil drawings, is a fictionalized account of the historic events that are detailed at the bottom of every two-page spread. Bowler has taken the seven voyages that the Treasure Fleet made and combined them into one story, abundant with adventure, exotic locales, and colorful characters.At a time when it seems that every piece of junky merchandise is imported from China, it's interesting to learn of the fine porcelains and silks that Emperor Zhu Di (third ruler of the Ming Dynasty) loaded on westbound ships to be delivered to rulers of other lands and to be used in trade. In return, he received precious metals, gems, spices, and other treasures.Bowler fills the pages with interesting facts about the real life Treasure Fleet, which was in operation for 28 years. In all, 317 ships were built; they visited over thirty countries, and traveled more than 35,000 miles under the admiralty of Zheng He. The first sailing was in the autumn of 1405, 87 years before Columbus sailed to the New World.With 27,000 men aboard the ships, Admiral Zheng He's venture comprised the largest navy assembled until World War II--more than 500 years later. Crews were made up of the expected soldiers and sailors, but also included "doctors, scribes, shipbuilders, priests, cooks, and diplomats."When the ships arrived at various ports, they were not always welcomed with open arms. However, once leaders saw the impressive gifts with which they were presented, they became much friendlier. One interesting--and exciting--incident occurred when Admiral Zheng He led an attack against pirates who terrorized the seas near the trading port of Malacca. The technically advanced Chinese fought with weapons the rest of the world had never seen, and were victorious. This victory led to prosperity for Malacca; it became the largest city in the region.Pirate battles and hostile greetings are but a few of the many thrilling stories told in Adventures of the Treasure Fleet. It transports the reader to a dream world that actually existed, and painlessly serves up history lessons that are eagerly digested.Bottom Line: Would I buy Adventures of the Treasure Fleet? Yes. The story is wonderful and the illustrations purchase it a premier spot on the coffee table.