Hoena, B. A.
MATTHEW HENSON : ARCTIC ADVENTURER
New York : Capstone, 2006
IL 5-8, RL 3.9
ISBN 0736846344

Way back about a hundred years ago, no one have ever been to the North Pole.  Can you believe that?  Well, the only way to get there was to walk so it is not too surprising.  A young African America boy by the name of Matthew Henson learned about geography and navigation while serving as a cabin boy.  As a young man, he was hired to be the valet of Robert Peary who was an explorer.  Within a few years, Matthew would find himself on the way to the North Pole.  There were several unsuccessful trips to the Pole before Matthew and Peary actually stepped foot on the Pole.  Even though Matthew was there, when they got back to the States, he was rarely mentioned.  You see, back in those days, African Americans were not seen as equals.  It took years for Matthew to get the recognition he deserved.  This is his story.