1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. Actual Size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0547512910
2.PLOT SUMMARY
The book discusses and gives example of the actual sizes and weights of various kinds and parts of animals to help children perceive, realize, identify and compare the creatures’ sizes to their reality. The sizes range from ones very small such as the dwarf goby which is the smallest fish of all fish to ones very large so large as the giant octopus’ eyes and the great white shark. Though it is not truly systematic in the organization of sizes from smallest to large, the book was ordered generally in that direction.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Steve Jenkins created a very inviting illustration book for children in this Actual Size. Each page presents a new animal or two for readers to find out. Additionally, there are facts and physical dimension comparison for each of the creatures at the actual scale. This helps children to be able to identify and compare the actual sizes of those animals to the reality of their perceptions. For example, the head size of the brown bear is even bigger than the children’s own heads. There were two fun foldouts showing the Goliath frog and the scary long teeth and mouth of the saltwater crocodile which the author dubbed as ‘a man eater.’ I also found much strength and a few considerations based on four perspectives: accuracy, organization, design, and style.
Accuracy
The author Steve Jenkins had been authoring and illustrating children’s books for more than a decade. In 1999, he was awarded the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, among many other awards for his children literature. He is also reputable on the topics of science as illustrated in his book Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution. It is logical to say Mr. Jenkins to be a qualified, credible and reputable author of children’s books. The only weak point I saw in this book is that it does not have citations or references to any sources he derived the information from and I am not certain that the information he has was his first hand knowledge. The facts he quoted then must be assumed correct on the basis of the author’s reputation and credential instead of referential resources. The illustrations, though may be assumable to be correct, the selection of parts of animals as the representation of their actual sizes can be confusing. For example, the showing of the great white shark’s teeth as the representation of its body size may not be imaginable for young children.
Organization
The layout seems logical, most of the time from smaller to larger sizes while at times the placing of smaller sizes to show size differences in between is also helpful though when one looks closely there does not really seem to be any logical sequence in the illustrations. However, in term of patterning from simplicity to complexity, the illustrations were done well. For example, at the beginning the author would show the whole creatures or the whole easily comprehensible body parts and at the end moved towards showing only parts of the body while explaining in texts referring to the whole body of the creatures. This may help children to use imagination though it might not be accurate. The book does not contain any subheading or any index or table of content.
Design
The design is quite attractive and natural. It complements the illustrations with the texts with the highlights and boldfaced animal names. Though there is name highlighting, at times it is unclear what the illustration is talking about especially when the illustrations are of some parts but the texts talk about the whole animals. The graphics are well sketched but colors seem monotonous. The author uses almost one color scheme for the whole book. In general the illustrations communicate the subject matter at an acceptable level. A very interesting design is the addition of some sticking flaps which can be opened up and the foldouts for the larger or longer animal parts help children to realize what the actual sizes of those animals and their parts are.
Style
The subject matter is interesting and the presentation is quite lively showing the author’s passion and enthusiasm. It also possibly can encourage curiosity and wonder among children who would like to find out further what the whole of the parts of the animals would be like. The vocabulary used was appropriate and not childish. There is also appropriate information for children to read and not get bored. One very good thing is the detail information about each animal and its whole body illustration, though not to the actual scale, was provided at the end of the book. Jenkins use some catching words to describe some animals which will help young children remember them clearly, for example, ‘man eater’ for the saltwater crocodile.
At the end of the book, Jenkins added pages with the detailed descriptions of each animal illustrated in the book. The whole body pictures of those animals help young children who are confused when they see only the parts of some animals to realize what the actual whole-body animals look like, though not at the actual sizes. It is a fun and interesting picture book even though there are a few considerations. It would be a good teaching supplement for science and math subjects for young children of possibly ages 4-5 years old. I would recommend teachers and adults to share with their children.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
The Orbis Pictus honor books for 2005.
School Library Journal calls the book “an enticing way to introduce children to diversity in the natural world.”
Amie on betterbook.com reviewed that Actual Size would be a good supplemental book to amaze and entice their students or kids to think more deeply about the animals and the world around them.
From School Library Journal, Dona Ratterree, New York City Public Schools, states Jenkins 18 animals and insects Actual Sizes is “a thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection.“
Amazaon.com Review by Paul Hughes calls it an inventive, involving picture book inviting young readers to see how they measure up against a variety of different animals.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I have found is Prehistoric Actural Size from the same author, Jenkins, Steve. It is also about the animal’s size.
Jenkins, Steve. 1952. Prehistoric actual size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN:9780618535781
Another one created by Jenkins, Steve is about animal size. The author added more perspectives on the size, strength, and the speed of animals.
Jenkins, Steve. 1997. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. New York : Sandpiper. ISBN: 0395861365
The other connection book is to see life-size photographs of various animals, with fold-out pages and charts of interesting facts.
Earhart, Kristin. 2010. More Life-Size Zoo: An All-New Actual-Size Animal Encyclopedia. New York : Seven Footer Press. ISBN: 1934734195
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