LS 5603.20/Spring 2010
S. Vardell
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Jenkins, Steve. Actual Size. Boston: Houghton Mufflin Company, 2004.
PLOT SUMMARY:
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Author Steve Jenkins has taken science to a new "size" for young readers. This beautifully crafted book features eleven different animals. Inside the front flap of the book jacket is a ruler that measures 1'1/4". This ruler furthers the impact of each animal's size. Inside the book, on double page layouts, Mr. Jenkins has created "Actual Size" images of a pygmy shrew, atlas moth, dwarf goby, giant squid, Alaskan brown bear, ostrich, giant anteater, Goliath birdeater tarantula, great white shark, gorilla, pygmy mouse lemur, Siberian tiger, Goliath beetle, Giant walking stick, African elephant and the giant Gippsland earthworm. The contrasting scale of these animals is fun and factual. Along with these beautiful collages and intricate cut paper creations, Mr. Jenkins inserts valuable scientific information relevant to the each subject. This information includes: lengths, wingspans and weights. The most striking part of the book comes on the Crocodile page. This tri-fold page is sure to make an impact on the reader and gives a new meaning of being "up close and personal'. The reverse side of the triptych shows the size of the Goliath Frog in mid leap. Lastly, if the reader desires more information on the animals depicted, author Jenkins includes more detailed information about each of his subjects in the back of his book. He includes additional facts about: habitats, eating habits and locations. Jenkin's research, creative presentation and reputation produce a credible information book. Actual Size is sure to become a classic and a necessary addition to any library's holdings
Images credited to http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/
AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2006 Winner Non-Fiction Arizona
Beehive Award, 2006 Winner Informational Utah
Books of the Year, 2004 Winner Ages 2 to 4 United States
Editors' Choice Top of the List, 2004 Winner Youth Nonfiction United States
Flicker Tale Children's Book Award, 2006 Winner Early-Primary Grades Non-Fiction North Dakota
Garden State Children's Book Award, 2007 Winner Nonfiction New Jersey
Great Lakes Great Books Award, 2007 Honor Book Grade K-1 Michigan
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, 2005 Honor Book United States
Anita Ganeri (Books for Keeps No. 163, March 2007)
"As its title suggests, this delightful large format book illustrates animals, and parts of animals, both large and small, at Actual Size. So, on the first spread, the reader meets a life-sized atlas moth (the world’s largest moth) with a dwarf goby (the world’s smallest fish) for comparison. On the next pages, we come face to face with a giant squid’s eye, a brown bear’s snout and a giant anteater’s tongue (complete with life-sized termites), among many other delights. With charming, collage-style illustrations, this book are packed with wow! Factor and should appeal to younger and older readers alike..."
Pat Thomson (Carousel 35, spring 2007)
"This is a good-looking, ingenious and helpful book which depicts animals in proper proportion, dispelling often false assumptions. The pygmy shrew sits easily under the title, with plenty of room to spare, a gorilla's single hand fills one page and it takes a double spread plus an extra fold-out page to show just the saltwater crocodile's head and jaws. The back pages give more conventionally presented extra detail about each animal. Adults and children can share their astonishment". Category: Non-Fiction. Frances Lincoln, D9.99.
CONNECTIONS:
Steve Jenkins http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_jenkins_steve.html
Steve Jenkins Website
Recommended Readings from Librarything website
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Robin Page
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest by Steve Jenkins
Prehistoric Actual Size by Steve Jenkins
Maria Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan
What do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? by Steve Jenkins
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