Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

Bibliography
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. Actual Size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

ISBN: 0-618-37594-5

Summary
Author, Steve Jenkins presents the size of animals or parts of those animals in collage illustrations. Weight and length/height is included on each page. Information about each animal is also provided at the end of the book.

Critical Analysis
Award winning author/illustrator Steve Jenkins has presented an exceptional nonfiction book in Actual Size.

Jenkins introduces sizes and facts about different animals in accurate detail. The most fascinating part of the book is made obvious in the illustrations. Each illustration is drawn to scale. Jenkins presents the animal where only part of the animal may fit on each page. For example, the great white shark page includes only five full teeth and the top of the mouth. On another page, the pygmy mouse lemur is seen in actual size: 2 1/2 inches tall.

The book is organized well, with a logical and coherent layout. Some pages present two animals so the reader can compare sizes. The presentation of animals is presented in alternating pattern of small and big. The animals' sizes become more concrete through Jenkins carefully planned and detailed comparisons.

Jenkins' illustrations help to make this book inviting for even the youngest of readers. The illustrations are collages of cut and torn paper. The colors of the papers are so creative the texture and details of the animals' covering are made obvious. For example, the Siberian tiger's whiskers and the fuzz of the fur are apparent in the illustration. Also, Jenkins uses font size to his advantage. The font is set as a small Futura type so as to keep the focus on the illustration. The animals' name are set in a bold font to help distinguish the animal on each page.

Jenkins' writing is simple and clear with a concise explanation about each animal presented at the end of the book. Jenkins style and expertise in detail provides an outstanding avenue for critical thinking about other animals and sizes. Students can easily wonder and predict sizes of other animals. Actual Size is a fascinating book, whether used as a tool in the classroom or enjoyed for pleasure reading.

Review excerpts accessed from www.titlewave.com.

Review Excerpts
Dona Rattertree with School Library Journal states, "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" (2004).

Booklist reports, "The resulting juxtapositions will leave children marveling at one species' daintiness, then shuddering as they mentally sketch in the unseen portions of more formidable beasts. 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" (2004).

Connections
Actual Size by Steve Jenkins is a perfect book for a study of animals or in a comparison of mathematical measurement.

"Wow, I love this book!" --Jailene (first grader)
"The gorilla's hand is so much bigger than mine." --Osbaldo (first grader)
"The spider scares me. It's so big." --Maria (first grader)
"The frog is longer than my baby sister." --Monica (second grader)