SLIS 5420
Blog 11
Actual Size by Steve Jenkins
Plot Summary: There is not much plot to summarize. Each page has at least one picture of a part of an animal each picture is accompanied by a scant amount of information. The animals include Gorilla, Goliath Bird eater Tarantula, Shark, Giant Squid, Lemur, Brown Bear, Ostrich, Goliath Frog, Siberian Tiger, etc.
My Impression: This is a phenomenal book. I found myself looking at this book again and again. The genius of this book is in its name, actual size. How many other books, how many shows about animals do children sit through without ever grasping how real these animals are. The pictures allow the children to get up close to these animals safely and gain real perspective on size. The range and types of animals are clever from the deadly to the rarely seen to the friendly and common place.
Review:
Actual Size Steve Jenkins Did you ever wonder just how big a gorilla’s hand is or how small the tiniest fish is? Come face to face with some amazing creatures in this creative book that shows us the actual size of certain animals. Whether it is the fold-out page with a 36 inch frog stretched across or a squid eye as big as your head peering out at you, Jenkin’s collage of cut and torn paper gives a wonderful perspective of how big and small certain animals are. Brief, interesting facts and physical dimensions accompany each animal along with more descriptive information at the end of the book. Check out this book and “see how you measure up” to these wild animals.
Actual Size will dazzle any reader, from preschoolers all the way up to the lucky adults who get to share it with their own children. The concept is simple: pictures of parts of animals are presented in the actual size they would be in real life.In the first place, it’s amazing how lifelike Steve Jenkins made the cut-paper illustrations. I wouldn’t have dreamed that a tiger face made of cut paper could look like it was about to bite.Besides the high quality of the pictures, readers will be stunned by the information presented. It’s one thing to be told that a giant squid grows up to 59 feet long. It’s quite another thing to look a squid in the eye, an eye that is actually 12 inches across.In this book you can confront the mouth of a great white shark, compare your hand with that of a gorilla or a pygmy mouse lemur, and shudder at the jaws of a saltwater crocodile.A truly wonderful book.
Suggestions for library use: In my opinion this book could be read out loud to any group regardless of age. After reading the book have it available for the audience to investigate and flip through. Half the fun of the book is putting your hand on the pictures just to see how small or large you are by comparison. Afterwards an art activity perhaps a hand tracing or body tracing activity.
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins
by Barbara Kerley
Illustrations by Brian Selznick
Plot Summary: Before paleontology really took off Waterhouse Hawkins tried to get the scientific community excited about dinosaurs. He threw a lavish party inside the head of his iguanadon. However, trying to get his dinosaurs created met with some opposition. After working on a project for two years Boss Tweed restructures New York's Parks organization essentially dismantling Hawkins operations. Hawkins was undeterred, he went back to his native home in Europe where he was able to create the dinosaurs he loved.
My Impression: Unlike some other books that Selznick has illustrated, in this book he actually illustrates the scenes people want to see. My personal favorite is the meal inside the iguanadon head. Another appeal of this book is that Ms. Kerley's writing creates enthusiasm for dinosaurs even though now they are common place. The story is interesting a little overly detailed in some places, but it moves pretty quickly. All and all a thoroughly entertaining read.
Reviews:
Models of the prehistoric past
REVIEW BY DEBORAH HOPKINSON
Kids have always been fascinated by dinosaurs. And here's a book that proves it. In their inventive and well-researched biography, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, Barbara Kerley (who is, according to the back cover, "an authoress of thrilling character") and Brian Selznick ("famous artist to Her Majesty the Queen") bring to life the work of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, the Victorian artist who was the first person to build life-size models of dinosaurs, much to the astonishment and delight of an admiring public. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned dinosaur models from Hawkins in 1853 for their art and science museum, the Crystal Palace.
Although new discoveries have rendered many of Hawkins' dinosaur models inaccurate, that hardly matters. Young readers will be fascinated by the story of his determination to share his passion for the past and the ways he went about it. And, thanks to Selznick's amazing illustrations based on on-site research, readers can see exactly how Hawkins worked. In a single two-page spread Selznick shows the scale of one of Hawkins' projects, depicting the creative process from first sketch to finished dinosaur -- a creature made of bricks, tiles and broken stones held together by cement.
Dinosaurs is as inventive as Hawkins himself. The book's design and illustrations playfully evoke the Victorian period, including a re-creation of a dinner party (complete with menu) inside an iguanodon model that Hawkins held for the foremost scientists of his day. With elaborate historical notes and ideas for further reading, Dinosaurs is sure to bring Hawkins back from obscurity into the admiring gaze of the public, which is exactly where he belongs.
Deborah Hopkinson's latest book for children is Under the Quilt of Night (Atheneum), illustrated by James Ransome.
REVIEW BY DEBORAH HOPKINSON
Kids have always been fascinated by dinosaurs. And here's a book that proves it. In their inventive and well-researched biography, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, Barbara Kerley (who is, according to the back cover, "an authoress of thrilling character") and Brian Selznick ("famous artist to Her Majesty the Queen") bring to life the work of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, the Victorian artist who was the first person to build life-size models of dinosaurs, much to the astonishment and delight of an admiring public. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned dinosaur models from Hawkins in 1853 for their art and science museum, the Crystal Palace.
Although new discoveries have rendered many of Hawkins' dinosaur models inaccurate, that hardly matters. Young readers will be fascinated by the story of his determination to share his passion for the past and the ways he went about it. And, thanks to Selznick's amazing illustrations based on on-site research, readers can see exactly how Hawkins worked. In a single two-page spread Selznick shows the scale of one of Hawkins' projects, depicting the creative process from first sketch to finished dinosaur -- a creature made of bricks, tiles and broken stones held together by cement.
Dinosaurs is as inventive as Hawkins himself. The book's design and illustrations playfully evoke the Victorian period, including a re-creation of a dinner party (complete with menu) inside an iguanodon model that Hawkins held for the foremost scientists of his day. With elaborate historical notes and ideas for further reading, Dinosaurs is sure to bring Hawkins back from obscurity into the admiring gaze of the public, which is exactly where he belongs.
Deborah Hopkinson's latest book for children is Under the Quilt of Night (Atheneum), illustrated by James Ransome.
Hopkinson, Deborah. [Review of The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins] Retrieved from http://www.bookpage.com/0201bp/children/dinos_waterhouse_hawkins.html
Book: The Dinosaurs Of Waterhouse Hawkins: An Illuminating History Of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, Artist And Lecturer( Series - Caldecott Honor Book )
In the mid-1800s, almost nobody knew what a dinosaur was until Victorian artist Waterhouse Hawkins built the first life-size models of the creatures in his native England and later American. This is the true story of how he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations. Full color.That was true in the mid-nineteenth century, until a Victorian artist named Waterhouse Hawkins brought these ancient animals to life for all to see. Originally in his native England, and later in New York City, he devoted more than three decades to building the first life-size models of dinosaurs, and he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations.
With style, spirit, and impeccable attention to detail, Barbara Kerley unearths a story of consuming passion, triumph, loss, and courage -- and ultimately, of an extraordinary legacy that lives on today. Brian Selznick celebrates this complex and fascinating individual through luminous and soul-stirring paintings that -- apropos of his subject -- form a visual masterpiece.
From the youngest dinosaur aficionados to those interested in art, science, or pioneering people, the unforgettable story of Waterhouse Hawkins and his dinosaurs has something to teach all of us about the importance of believing in oneself and following a dream.
In the mid-1800s, almost nobody knew what a dinosaur was until Victorian artist Waterhouse Hawkins built the first life-size models of the creatures in his native England and later American. This is the true story of how he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations. Full color.That was true in the mid-nineteenth century, until a Victorian artist named Waterhouse Hawkins brought these ancient animals to life for all to see. Originally in his native England, and later in New York City, he devoted more than three decades to building the first life-size models of dinosaurs, and he dazzled the world with his awe-inspiring creations.
With style, spirit, and impeccable attention to detail, Barbara Kerley unearths a story of consuming passion, triumph, loss, and courage -- and ultimately, of an extraordinary legacy that lives on today. Brian Selznick celebrates this complex and fascinating individual through luminous and soul-stirring paintings that -- apropos of his subject -- form a visual masterpiece.
From the youngest dinosaur aficionados to those interested in art, science, or pioneering people, the unforgettable story of Waterhouse Hawkins and his dinosaurs has something to teach all of us about the importance of believing in oneself and following a dream.
Suggestions for library use: A little slow at some points, but this book would be good to read aloud to any grade level up to fifth grade. This book would be an especially good read if there was a dinosaur theme. A dinosaur activity to follow would be a good idea.
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