You might know that Marco Polo traveled the Silk Road, Lewis and Clark headed west with the help of Sacajawea, and Sally Ride blasted into space. But what do you really know about these bold explorers as people? What were they like as kids? What pets or bad habits did they have? And what drove their passion to explore unknown parts of the world? With plenty of maps and juicy tidbits about everything from favorite foods to first loves, Lives of the Explorers takes readers on a journey across oceans, continents, and beyond, celebrating the wanderlust that has shaped our understanding of the globe.

Kathleen Krull is well known for her innovative, award-winning nonfiction for young people, including Lives of the Explorers, Lives of the Musicians, and all other books in this popular series illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. She is also the author of Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, as well as The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny) and Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country), both co-written with Paul Brewer and illustrated by Stacy Innerst. She lives in San Diego, California. Visit her online at kathleenkrull.com.