Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 2002. Danger! Earthquakes. San Francisco: Sea Star Books.
ISBN: 0-329-27815-0
Summary
Danger! Earthquakes discusses the causes, destruction, and locations of earthquakes in an easy to read presentation.
Critical Analysis
Seymour Simon has written over 200 children's books and is an award recipient for numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Science Books.
Simon has a vast array of children's books. One of his endeavors is a series for the younger reader. This series is called SeeMore Readers. Danger! Earthquake is one book of this series.
Simon's information about earthquakes is accurate and informative. Readers learn how earthquakes are measured, where earthquakes are located, and what to do in an earthquake. Danger! Earthquakes is organized well. Simon introduces earthquakes, then explains how they are measured. Next, Simon discusses specific earthquakes: the 1811 earthquake in Mississippi, the 1964 earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska, and the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. Simon concludes the book with information on what to do if you are in an earthquake.
The book is easy to read, and simple enough for the young reader or reluctant reader. Danger! Earthquakes is fashioned after a more advanced edition by Simon, Earthquakes (1991). The text is not as detailed as the earlier version, but Simon does maintain the integrity of the information presented. Simon makes it easier to understand for the younger reader by reducing the amount of text on each page and providing careful word selection. The text on each page is less than 10 sentences and written in an easy to read font.
The book is attractive and interesting with full page photographs and pictures. The pictures provide support to the text, making it easy to comprehend. Some of the pictures are found in both of Simon's earthquake books. Unfortunately, a few of the pictures in Danger! Earthquakes appear to be lesser quality than his first book. In comparison, they are slightly grainy.
It is exciting to have a prolific writer provide books for even the youngest of readers. These books are perfect for the young and inviting enough for the reluctant reader, encouraging a foundation for curiosity about the things around them. Danger! Earthquakes, along with the rest of the series is necessary for a library collection.
Review Excerpts
Horn Book reports, "In two books in this series for beginning readers, clear, color photos and maps show the range and effects of these natural phenomena. The easy-to-read, informative text extends the illustrations and exhibits a knowledge of not only the subject but also the audience" (2002).
Edith Ching with School Library Journal states, "These easy-readers are dominated by large, colorful photographs. Many of those in Danger! appeared in Simon's Earthquakes (Morrow, 1991) and some are poorly reproduced, often grainy. A few lines of generally clear and informative text accompany the illustrations on each page " (2002).
Review excerpts accessed from http://www.titlewave.com/.
Connections
Danger! Earthquakes is part of the See More Readers series, level 2. Other books in the same series include:
Bridges
Cool Cars
Danger! Volcanoes
Giant Snakes
Skyscrapers
Super Storms
Showing posts with label Non-fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Non-fiction. Show all posts
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
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)
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)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic Plague of 1793 by JIm Murphy
Bibliography
Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion Books.
ISBN: 0-395-77608-2
Summary
A true account of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, during 1793, leaving thousands dead.
Critical Analysis
Non-fiction and fiction author, Jim Murphy tells the interesting, true story of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia during 1793 in his book: An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793.
Murphy does an excellent job of providing accurate information of this epidemic story. He uses information found in letters, journals, newspapers, and other documents to support the story. At the beginning of chapters, excerpts of actual time-period newspapers are included. Additionally, illustrations through out the book support the story. At the end of the book, Murphy includes a list of all sources consulted in the making of this book. The sources are listed in categories, making it very user-friendly.
The organization of An American Plague is written sequentially. The epidemic occurs in 1793, over the course of several months. Murphy uses dates and times, through out the story to document the events. This also helps make the story easy to follow. In fact, each chapter begins with a specific date.
The design of the story provides support for the time period. The simple illustrations are basic in black and white. The use of black and white is appropriate for a story of this time period. The newspaper excerpts appropriately complement the text. The reader can feel like they are reading the newspaper of 1793. The author does mentions very few actual visual documents actually exist from this event in American history. The images he does include replicate, to the best extent they can, the actual events, providing natural support to the text.
Murphy has told a true story that is interesting and intriguing. Murphy has taken a part of American history and presented in a way that is clear, precise, and inviting to read. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 is an award book in several categories, including the Robert F. Sibert Award and the Orbis Pictus Award. Murphy's story well-deserving of the many awards, and should be enjoyed by young and old.
Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review states, "Powerful, evocative prose carries along the compelling subject matter. Even as the narrative places readers in the moment with quotations, the design aids and abets this, beginning each chapter with reproductions from contemporary newspapers and other materials, as well as placing period illustrations appropriately throughout the text" (2003).
Horn Book reports, "Quoting diverse voices, from private diaries to published accounts, Murphy fills in the picture of a devastated town . . . . Everywhere, Murphy is attentive to telling detail; he offers representative images in the illustrations, from black-and-white portraits of figures in the narrative to plague scenes themselves, often taken from (clearly labeled) European settings when the visual record didn't exist for Philadelphia" (2003).
Review excerpts accessed from http://www.titlewave.com/
Connections
Other non-fiction stories by Jim Murphy:
The Great Fire
Blizzard!
A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy
The Boys' War
The Long Road to Gettysburg
Inside the Alamo
Across America on an Emigrant Train
Pick and Shovel Poet: The Journeys of Pascal D'Angelo
Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt of the Great Whale
"This is a really good story. Can I check it out after you are finished?"--Jazmyn (4th grader)
Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion Books.
ISBN: 0-395-77608-2
Summary
A true account of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, during 1793, leaving thousands dead.
Critical Analysis
Non-fiction and fiction author, Jim Murphy tells the interesting, true story of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia during 1793 in his book: An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793.
Murphy does an excellent job of providing accurate information of this epidemic story. He uses information found in letters, journals, newspapers, and other documents to support the story. At the beginning of chapters, excerpts of actual time-period newspapers are included. Additionally, illustrations through out the book support the story. At the end of the book, Murphy includes a list of all sources consulted in the making of this book. The sources are listed in categories, making it very user-friendly.
The organization of An American Plague is written sequentially. The epidemic occurs in 1793, over the course of several months. Murphy uses dates and times, through out the story to document the events. This also helps make the story easy to follow. In fact, each chapter begins with a specific date.
The design of the story provides support for the time period. The simple illustrations are basic in black and white. The use of black and white is appropriate for a story of this time period. The newspaper excerpts appropriately complement the text. The reader can feel like they are reading the newspaper of 1793. The author does mentions very few actual visual documents actually exist from this event in American history. The images he does include replicate, to the best extent they can, the actual events, providing natural support to the text.
Murphy has told a true story that is interesting and intriguing. Murphy has taken a part of American history and presented in a way that is clear, precise, and inviting to read. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 is an award book in several categories, including the Robert F. Sibert Award and the Orbis Pictus Award. Murphy's story well-deserving of the many awards, and should be enjoyed by young and old.
Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review states, "Powerful, evocative prose carries along the compelling subject matter. Even as the narrative places readers in the moment with quotations, the design aids and abets this, beginning each chapter with reproductions from contemporary newspapers and other materials, as well as placing period illustrations appropriately throughout the text" (2003).
Horn Book reports, "Quoting diverse voices, from private diaries to published accounts, Murphy fills in the picture of a devastated town . . . . Everywhere, Murphy is attentive to telling detail; he offers representative images in the illustrations, from black-and-white portraits of figures in the narrative to plague scenes themselves, often taken from (clearly labeled) European settings when the visual record didn't exist for Philadelphia" (2003).
Review excerpts accessed from http://www.titlewave.com/
Connections
Other non-fiction stories by Jim Murphy:
The Great Fire
Blizzard!
A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy
The Boys' War
The Long Road to Gettysburg
Inside the Alamo
Across America on an Emigrant Train
Pick and Shovel Poet: The Journeys of Pascal D'Angelo
Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt of the Great Whale
"This is a really good story. Can I check it out after you are finished?"--Jazmyn (4th grader)
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