Informational Text: Actual Size

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve. 2011.  Actual Size.  Sandpiper.  ISBN 10: 9780547512914

Plot Summary

In this picture book, Steve Jenkins shows a variety of animals and animal parts at their actual size.  This book will allow children and adults to compare their body parts to the body parts of these abnormally small and abnormally large animals.  Also, this book will allow the viewer to learn about the actual animal facts.

Critical Analysis        

This book gives an authentic look of how actual animals can be related to human body parts according to their size.  Each page is devoted to a familiar animal and it gives specific details about the animals' size, characteristics, and habitat.  "In this book seeing is believing as Steve Jenkins illustrates animals both large and small at the ACTUAL SIZE."  The illustrations are very unique.  The pictures are composed of cut and torn pieces of paper put together to form the picture of the animal.  The first attraction to the book are the pictures and then the text.  The eyes are drawn to the picture first and then it makes you want to read more about that particular animal.

Reviews Excerpts/Awards/Honors         

School Library Journal, "A thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection."

Starred The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Book's, "Jenkins' imaginative paper collages work their usual magic in transcending their medium to capture the spirit and detail of their subjects. The real triumph here, however, is the compositions...the book makes brilliantly creative use of its tight focus, resulting in startling close-ups."

Starred Booklist, ALA, "Jenkins' artwork is gorgeous (a gatefold of a frog in mid-leap is particularly memorable)... An unusual, unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature's astonishing variety."

Connections

*Students can measure the body parts in the book.

*Complete additional research on the animals pictured in the book.

*Try to duplicate an animal body part in this book by using clay or play-dough.

*Classify all the animals in this book (mammal, reptiles, and amphibians).

*Distinguish which animals are prey and which are predators.

*Read this book then take a field trip to the zoo and discuss any animals that they saw that were in the book.