Book Title: Actual Size
Author and Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Copyright Date: 2004
Genre: Picture Book – Concept Book - Size
Brief Annotation:
Jenkins recreates beautiful images of some of the world’s largest and smallest animals in their actual size!! Using a collage technique, the reader will get to see animals like the Giant Squid’s eyeball (12 inches across) and the jaws of the saltwater crocodile (two feet long). You’ll be anxious to see which wondrous animal pops up next!
Your Rating (1-5) and why:
5 – Too often we run in to pictures of caterpillars and sharks shown at the same scale. The fact that Jenkins’ animal pictures are all real life size representations adds that much more interest and validity to his work. All of the attention is on the pictures, with just a few words describing each animal. He leaves more detailed information about each animal he chose in the back – great for the beginning of a research project!
Readers who will like this book:
Animal lovers, scientists, and I think any child would find something to enjoy in this book.
Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:
Have you ever wondered what the actual size of a bear is? Or a crocodile? Or a gorilla’s hand?
1. Interest Level (age): K
2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.5
Yes, this is a special book by a special author. He would have made a great author study choice, particularly in the nonfiction genre. Have you read many other titles by Jenkins?
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the fact that throughout our class you were tuned into opportunities to link reading and writing, as you have here by noting that this book would be a great resource for nonfiction writing.