Actual Size

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. 2004. Actual Size. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618375945

PLOT SUMMARY

In this picture book, Caldecott award winner Steve Jenkins shows eighteen animals and insects, both large and small, in their actual size.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although this book does not include references, Steven Jenkins is a well known author who can be trusted as a reliable source.  Based on the format of the book, there is little room for deviating from accuracy.  As a picture book, the book is short, at only 28 pages long.  Despite the length of this book, it is packed with information.  Each entry gives a fact about an animal (such as the Alaskan brown bear is the largest meat-eating animal that lives on land) and information about the size of the animal (the same brown bear is 13 feet tall and weighs 1,700 pounds).  Along with each entry is an illustration depicting the animal in its actual size.  The result is completely engaging.  At the end of the book, Jenkins has included a section that shows a small illustration of the animals included in the book and a short paragraph detailing the animal’s traits and characteristics. 

Other than the descriptions at the end of the book, Jenkins does not include any other reference aids.  While that may make searching for specific information difficult, that is not really the purpose of this book.  Most children would not use this specific book as a tool for research, but rather as an engaging way to learn more about animals.  The lack of reference aids does not minimize the effectiveness of this book.

The design of Actual Size is an area where Jenkins is really able to show off.  Each graphic is expertly created from collages of cut and torn paper.  By illustrating the animals in their actual size, the pictures take on a real-life feel and the impact is huge.  The detail that Jenkins is able to master with his illustrations is completely astounding.  For example, the illustration of the gorilla’s hand looks lifelike and it is almost impossible to stop yourself from putting your hand on top of it. 

While the final section includes complex words that may be difficult for younger readers, the text throughout most of the book is written in a simple way that will not be so difficult that children are turned off.  Jenkins seems to have the ability to take a book filled with information and present it in a way that makes the reader forget they are learning something.

Actual Size is targeted toward children ages 4-8, but all ages will enjoy this book.  I sure did!

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide:  “Jenkins's signature cut-paper collages are once again amazing.”

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.”

CONNECTIONS

Actual Size is a good indicator of Jenkins’ style.  If readers are interest in this book, the following might appeal to them as well:

Jenkins, Steve. Prehistoric Actual Size. ISBN 0618535780

Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? ISBN 0618152431

Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? ISBN 0618256288

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fleming, Candace. 2008. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 0375936180

PLOT SUMMARY

Fleming presents this biography of Abraham and Mary Lincoln in the format of a scrapbook.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary, author Candace Fleming provides a stellar example of how to prove the accuracy of the content within a book.  In the acknowledgements section at the beginning of the book, Fleming thanks several notable scholars, historians, and librarians.  Specifically, Fleming thanks history professor Dr. Herbert Lasky for his fact checking of the content.  At the end of the book, Fleming provides a list of suggested reading, related websites, and notes about her research strategies.  There is also an extensive notes section.  Primary documents were utilized extensively throughout the book, which leads to further credibility.  While it is difficult to judge the accuracy of a book without being familiar with the topic, Fleming gives thorough evidence to the accuracy of her content.

This book is organized chronologically, which could be useful for research.  Reference aids are included throughout the text -- a table of contents, subheadings, and index are all available.  If readers are looking for specific information, such as content on a specific event, it is likely that they will easily be able to find it.

Fleming chose to format this book as a scrapbook.  This was a wise decision as the content might otherwise appear as large blocks of text.  The scrapbook format does a good job of breaking up the text so that it is not overwhelming to the reader.  The prevalent use of primary documents dominates the text.  According to a note at the beginning of the book, the font throughout the book is based on typefaces from the 1800s.  This special feature is a nice touch that lends itself well to the scrapbook format. Photos and other graphics are scattered on every page.  All black and white, these pictures add to the authenticity of the content.  Coupled with the font, the book reads more like newspaper articles than a simple non-fiction book. 

If a reader were to open to any page in the book, they might be overwhelmed by the amount of text.  Upon further examination, however, the content is written in a clear and simple manner.  Although Fleming has included a lot of information, it is not too much or too complex.  Unfortunately, some young readers may be scared away before realizing this.  This book is a great tool for both research, but would also be enjoyable for children just interested in the Lincolns.  Fleming has included a lot more than normally reported historical facts.  For example, Fleming writes about Abraham’s favorite childhood books and gives the recipe for Mary’s favorite cake.  These unique facts add an interesting dynamic to the book and give it a distinctive place in the often told narrative of the Lincolns.

This book is recommended for ages 10 and up.  The content may be overwhelming for younger readers.  The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary is classified as a Juvenile book, but older readers should not shy away from it for this reason.  This would have been a valuable resource when I was in college.  Overall, I was astounded by both the quantity and the quality of the primary documents.  This is an exemplary book!

REVIEW EXCERPT(S

School Library Journal:  “From portraits to pets, the book contains a wide variety of graphics, including written and visual primary documents that enrich every spread. Notes, resources, and source notes are exemplary. It's hard to imagine a more engaging or well-told biography of the Lincolns.”

Starred review in Booklist:  “Fleming's writing, filled with quotes and personal details, is just as lively as the assortment of images, and an extensive time line, suggested resources, and source notes round out the text. Starting with her personal introduction, this exemplary resource will prompt readers to consider how an individual's life story, and a country's history, are constructed.”

CONNECTIONS

Other American biographies from Fleming include:

Fleming, Candace. Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life. ISBN 0689835493

Fleming, Candace. Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life. ISBN 0689865449

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bartoletti, Susan Cambell. 2010. They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618440337

PLOT SUMMARY

Bartoletti tells the story of how a clandestine terrorist group took root in America.  Bartoletti explores the origins of the K.K.K. and focuses on the stories from victims.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Award winning author Bartoletti is well known for her non-fiction books, especially Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow.  Her latest non-fiction book, They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group will not leave readers disappointed.  Although at this point her name lends credibility to her work, Bartoletti includes an extensive notes section at the end of the book to affirm the accuracy of the content.  Additionally, in the acknowledgements section, she thanks several historians for their help which leads the reader to conclude that her facts have been verified.  Bartoletti also details her research process in a journal-like entry.

This book is organized chronologically.  Bartoletti details the creation and subsequent consequences of the formation of the K.K.K.  Several reference aids are included throughout the book, including a table of contents, time line, quote attributions, bibliography, notes, and index.  Each chapter includes several pictures and visuals from the time period which support the text and provide interest to the content.  The portraits of people give an especially personal feel to the book as the text is more meaningful when there is a face associated with the content.

While reading They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group, a reader might forget that they are reading a work of non-fiction.  Bartoletti writes in a way that is simple without sacrificing the content.  The inclusion of personal accounts makes the content personal and more meaningful.  This book is likely to spark interest among readers and leave readers desiring more information on the topic. 

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group is suggested for ages 12 and up.  Some of the content is gruesome (such as a depiction of two lynching victims on p. 127) and could be inappropriate for younger readers.  This is definitely not to say that this book should be avoided, as the content is excellent, but caution should be exercised when suggesting this book to younger children.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide:  “Exemplary in scholarship, interpretation, and presentation.”

School Library Journal:  “Bartoletti effectively targets teens with her engaging and informative account that presents a well-structured inside look at the KKK, societal forces that spawn hate/terrorist groups, and the research process.”

Publisher’s Weekly:  “Copious photos, engravings, and illustrations provide a hard-hitting graphic component to this illuminating book.”

CONNECTIONS

Children interested in Bartoletti’s book might also enjoy:

Crowe, Chris. Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case. ISBN 0803728042

Bowers, Rick. Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement. ISBN 1426305958