Book Review ACTUAL SIZE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. ACTUAL SIZE. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618375945

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In Actual Size, we learn just how big tigers, crocodiles, and the world’s largest spiders are. Sometimes fact, figures, and dimensions, don’t mean much—especially to children. In this book, Steve Jenkin illustrates animals and insects, or parts of their body, both big and small at their actual size.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Young children think concretely, so telling them that a giant squid is 59 feet long may not mean much to them. On the other hand, if an illustration shows a giant squid’s eyeball which measures about 12 inches across, children will be able to imagine just how large this creature is.

Jenkins physically shows kids animal's dimensions in Actual Size. Eighteen animals are described and illustrated. Each animal has its dimensions and memorable facts about them. The illustrations, which are collages of cut and torn paper, are sure to entice young children to picking up this book.

4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
Beehive Children’s Informational Book Award
Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award
Garden State Children’s Book Awards

BOOKLIST: “Jenkins' artwork is gorgeous (a gatefold of a frog in midleap is particularly memorable), and, at the end of the book, thumbnail images of the featured animals paired with information about habitat and behavior put the piquant visuals into a broader context. An unusual, unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature's astonishing variety.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “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.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Elementary school teachers can easily incorporate Actual Size into a science lesson on animals, or a math lesson on measurements.

*Students can pick an animal or insect, research its dimensions, and then make their own illustrations. The illustrations, like in the book, can be of the entire animal or if too large a body part can be drawn (using accurate dimensions).

Image Credit: houghtonmifflinbooks.com