Actual Size

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Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve.  Actual Size.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.  0-618-37594-5

Summary

Everyone has seen a gorilla, at the zoo, on TV or in the pictures of a book.  The dark, furry face is familiar.  But just how big is a gorilla?  If you were to put your hand next to a gorilla’s hand, how would you compare?  This is one of the questions Steve Jenkins sets out to answer in Actual Size.  Just how big is the foot of the world’s largest land mammal?  How small is the world’s smallest primate?  Read to find out!

Analysis

Young children inevitably want to learn about the world around them, particularly about animals.  Beautiful art, simple language and concrete sizes make Actual Size a perfect selection to introduce young readers to nonfiction while satisfying their curiosities. 

Every page of the book has a plain white background, allowing the text and illustrations to pop.  The text is limited, with only a single sentence and a few measurement details on each page.  This allows each stunning illustration to be the focal point of the book.  Each picture is made, as the title suggests, in actual size.  Bound by the page size, this limits the reader to only seeing portions of many of the animals, giving a strong idea of how large they truly are.

If readers are not satisfied with the simple, one sentence hook from each page, they can reference the end of the book where each animal has a paragraph about them as well as a picture showing their full body, either at a distance or, for small animals, close up to see more detail.  While no sources are cited, Steve Jenkins’s reputation precedes him and gives credibility to the information. 

Awards and Reviews

*Orbis Pictus Honor Book

*Booklist Editor’s Choice

*Natural History Best Books for Young Readers, 2004

“In striking torn-and-cut paper collages, Jenkins depicts 18 animals and insects–or a part of their body–in actual size… Mixing deceptive simplicity with absolute clarity, this beautiful book is an enticing way to introduce children to the glorious diversity of our natural world, or to illustrate to budding scientists the importance of comparison, measurement, observation, and record keeping. A thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection.–School Library Journal

“A new exploration of the biological world, from one of the current masters of collage, features life-size-not scaled-representations of the extremes of the animal kingdom. Wonderfully textured collages are set against a white background, accompanied by a minimal text gloss about the animals, and their sizes. Some are so huge that only parts can be seen (the one-foot-diameter eye of a giant squid) and others require some squinting (the 1/3-inch dwarf goby). It's a fascinating subject, and one that will resonate with an audience for whom relative size is a matter of daily interest. Jenkins exploits it for all its worth, including a fold-out of a crocodile's jaw and a snarling tiger whose face spills off the page. Four concluding pages provide more information about the featured animals, along with reasonably sized, full-body reiterations of the illustrations. Sadly enough, however, in a book that is so intimately concerned with measurement, only English units are used, seemingly ignoring the fact that the metric system is the universal language of science worldwide. A regrettable flaw in an otherwise outstanding offering.” – Kirkus Reviews

Connections

As a class, have students choose animals to research.  When their research is complete, have students make an actual size version of their animal.  Display the animals and invite others to visit the “Actual Size Zoo.”  Students can dress as zookeepers and inform the visitors about the animal they researched.

Steve Jenkins’s website

Jenkins uses torn paper to create his art.  Watch Jenkins explain his process (here or here).  Choose a scientific concept and have students illustrate it using the process Jenkins describes.

An interview with Jenkins

Read a number of Jenkins’s books and complete an author's study.  Look for similarities and differences in his books. 

Prepare a list of animal heights.  Have student measure these heights on paper then hang it in the room.  Compare the height of students to the animals.  Use these measurements as the basis of a math lesson on comparing. 

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

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Bibliography

Kerley, Barbra.  Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.  The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy).  New York: Scholastic, 2010.  978-0-545-12508-6

Summary

Everyone knows Mark Twain, the creator of legendary characters such as Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.  It is likely that thousands of biographies have been written about his life, however there was one author who told a different story.  As she entered her teenage years, Twain’s daughter Susy took it upon herself to write a true biography of her father.  Susy was “a frank biographer and an honest one,” and she used “no sandpaper” in telling her father’s story.

Analysis

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) is not your typical biography.  Rather than give a large and detailed overview of Twain’s life, this book focuses on the relationship of father and daughter while giving a taste of Twain’s accomplishments and a glimpse into Susy’s world.  This unusual rendition creates an intriguing story that feels more like a work of fiction than the researched and historical account it is.  An extensive, page-by-page bibliography gives credit to the accuracy of the information while embedded quotations allow the personalities of Susy and Twain to shine through without bias or exaggeration.

The illustrations and layout support the text and further engage the reader in Susy’s story.  Deep, rich colors are a unifying factor in the illustrations, which vary from extremely detailed to simplistic silhouettes, keeping the reader interested in the art.  The biggest layout highlight may be the embedded pages from Susy’s journal, attached to the illustrations on every other page.  Rather than include the words from Susy’s journal entries in the text of the story, they are pulled out and placed as a book within a book, allowing the reader to open the journal entries separately.  Opening the journals and reading the italicized writing allows the reader to feel as though she is peering into Susy’s own journal, reading her original writing.

 Awards and Reviews

*2010 CYBILS Nonfiction Picture Book Award

*Best Children’s Books 2010 – Publisher’s Weekly

*Best Books 2010 – School Library Journal

*Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee

“Kerley and Fotheringham again craft a masterfully perceptive and largely visual biography, this time about the iconic 19th-century American writer. In pursuit of truth, Susy Clemens, age 13, vows to set the record straight about her beloved (and misunderstood) father and becomes his secret biographer. Kerley uses Susy's manuscript and snippets of wisdom and mirth from Twain's copious oeuvre as fodder for her story. The child's journal entries, reproduced in flowing handwritten, smaller folio inserts, add a dynamic and lovely pacing to the narrative, which includes little-known facts about Twain's work.  The text flawlessly segues into Susy's carefully recorded, sometimes misspelled, details of his character, intimate life, and work routine during his most prolific years....A delightful primer on researching and writing biographies, and a joy to peruse.” –SchoolLibrary Journal

“Kerley's conversational, quotation-rich narration effectively complements Susy's insights, and the result is an affectionate portrait of Twain as writer and family man…. Fotheringham's dynamically composed, digitally created full-bleed illustrations, both inventive and appealing, effectively recall the 19th-century setting, and big, swirling lines reflect the flourishes of an ink pen…. A heartwarming tribute to both the writing life in general and the well-loved humorist-oops, sorry Susy… ‘Pholosopher!’” –Kirkus Reviews 

Connections

Susy writes a biography to capture Mark Twain, his strengths and shortcomings.  Choose a member of your family.  In a journal format, write a biography that would give historians a clear picture of what they are like.

Writing an Extraordinary Biography by Barbara Kerley

Barbra Kerley’s Website

Throughout the book, illustrator Edwin Fotheringham incorporated different types of writing into the book’s illustrations – Susy’s journal pages, a newspaper print, one of Twain’s letters that appears as though he is writing it.  Choose a writer or artist to research.  Create a picture book incorporating their writing or art in a similar fashion.

Give students more traditional biographies on Twain.  Have them compare and contrast the styles then write a review of each book explaining its benefits and drawbacks.  Have them include an explanation of which style they like more. 

The Mark Twain Museum

Bomb: The Race to Build --and Steal-- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

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Bibliography

Sheinkin, Steve. (2012): Read by Roy Samuelson. Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon [CD]. New York: Roaring Book Press/Listening Library.  978-0-8041-2218-4

Summary

The Second World War is in full swing.  The Allied Powers are making progress in their fight against the Nazis, slowly containing their movement and power on the ground.  The Americans and Brits work hand-in-hand with the USSR, fighting a common enemy while never putting full trust in the each other.  Despite the progress that has been made, there is a serious concern among American leadership.  It is known that the Germans have discovered a new energy source that could potentially be harnessed to create a weapon of mass destruction.  In supposed secret, the American, Soviet and German governments all begin separate projects to develop this technology, knowing that whoever can harness its power first will win the war. 

The race is on.  Who will discover the secrets of the atom bomb first?

Analysis

The atom bomb was arguably the most advanced scientific development of the twentieth century.  It took thousands of people years to perfect its destructive powers.  At the same time that it was being developed in America, a complicated web of Soviet spies were attempting to discover the secrets of this technology while German scientists also worked to solve the atomic puzzle. 

Sheinkin has managed to weave all these stories into one book.  Combining historical fact with dialog, this does not feel like the nonfiction that it is.  Jumping from viewpoint to viewpoint, Steinkin tells the story of American scientists and Soviet spies, then jumps to the viewpoint of the President or army rangers deep in enemy territory.  This constant change of voice keeps the reader engaged and makes the book feel like a story rather than a textbook.  Never staying with one story line for long, each section leaves the reader wondering what will happen next.

While all these story lines keep the book interesting, they also make the book complicated to follow.  There are many people involved in making the bomb that matching names to storylines becomes a challenge midway through the book.  While the book is recommended for grades 5-9, I would personally suggest the upper range of these grades due to the complexity of the story.

The 6 CD, unabridged audio version of the book is straightforward and simplistic.  Samuelson reads aloud, clearly and at a steady pace.  There is no background music, sound effects or character voice.  However, the simplicity is appreciated and appropriate.  Any added gimmicks would feel out of place with the seriousness of the subject matter.

Awards and Reviews

*Newbery Honor Book

*Robery F. Sibery Award

*National Book Awards – Finalist

“It’s a true spy thriller, ranging from the football stadium at the University of Chicago to the mountains of Norway, from the deserts of New Mexico to laboratories in East Tennessee, and all along the way spies in the United States were feeding sensitive information to the KGB… It takes a lot of work to make a complicated subject clear and exciting, and from his prodigious research and storytelling skill, Sheinkin has created a nonfiction story young people will want to read.

A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world.” –Kirkus Review

“This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is “boring.” It’s also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed—and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb.” –TheWall Street Journal

Connections

Research the major events of World War Two.  Create a dual timeline showing key moments in the making of the atomic bomb side by side with major world events.

Research one of the scientists, politicians or spies from Bomb.  Write a diary from their viewpoint.  Tell about their struggles and thoughts during the production of the atomic bomb.  Include doubts, certainties and personal feelings that can be supported but not necessarily proven by the official documentation of their work.

School Library Journal interviews Steve Sheinkin

Steve Sheinkin introduces the book

Complete research on the short and long term effects of the bomb.  Stage a debate arguing the merits and faults of the bomb.  Should any country have this power? 

Teaching Guide from Steven Sheinkin

Sheinkin’s Website