Where Am I?: The Story of Maps and Navigation

Brenda Reed is the curriculum and reference services librarian in the
Education Library, Queen’s University.

This excellent introduction to the history and tools of cartography and
navigation is divided into brief sections that focus on a single
concept, tool, or geographer. In addition to black-and-white
illustrations that serve to clarify the technical explanations given in
the text, there are drawings, maps, and charts. The author answers such
questions as “Why is an atlas called an atlas?” in clear and concise
language, and explains difficult words in a three-page glossary at the
back of the book.

There are explanations here of latitude, longitude, the Mercator
projection, the magnetic compass, traverse boards, the chronometer, and
more. Readers are introduced to key figures who advanced our
understanding of the world and our position in it (Hipparchus,
Eratosthenes, Strabo, Ptolemy, Al-Idrisi, and Mercator, etc.), as well
as to national projects and geographical societies such as the French
Royal Academy and the British Board of Ordnance. The sections on the
mapping of North America and the north and south polar regions focus on
such explorers as Samuel Hearne in Canada, and the teams of Lewis and
Clark and Fremont and Preuss in the United States. The book concludes
with a look at the satellite-aided Global Positioning System, which
provides users with their latitude and longitude at the touch of a
button.

This accessible treatment of often complex topics would be a valuable
resource for school and public libraries. Highly recommended.