Biggest, Strongest, Fastest by Steve Jenkins

Bibliography:

Jenkins, Steve. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. Orlando, FL: Ticknor & Fields Books for Young Readers, 1997. ISBN: 978-0395697016

Plot Summary:

Steve Jenkins provides factual information with detailed illustrations of animals that are the strongest, fastest, and tallest of all animals.

Critical Analysis:

Do you know which animals are the biggest, strongest, fastest or tallest of all? Steve Jenkins knows! He introduces "record holders" of all animals. He uses 20 point Century Old Style font to tell you which animal holds a specific record using a simple sentence. This single sentence makes it easy for young readers to read and comprehend. He uses about a 12 point font for sidebar facts about each animal. You will see the pattern of picture, single sentence, sidebar facts, and a subtle comparison to humans in a small unmentioned illustration for each animal. Each animal has 2 full color pages dedicated to it, except for the whale. The whale understandably gets 3 pages. This is not a problem because the Etruscan shrew only needs one page. It is the world's smallest mammal. This is something new that I learned from the book. The illustrations are full color paper collages, which give it a realistic appearance. The color pages and the colors used for the animals contrast with each other helping the animal pop out at you. The animals are not in any particular order because a sequence is not needed. My preschool students enjoyed looking at the detailed illustrations of the animals while listening to brief facts read aloud. They were completely engaged from beginning to end. Who wouldn't be? I learned a few new things about animals such as, "The largest kind of spider is the bird spider. The bird spider measures almost a foot across and has a poisonous bite." Ouch!

The beginning of the book in back of the title page is a bibliography of sources used for research. The sources include an encyclopedia and other informational books that prove the facts used are researched based. The end of the book includes an animal chart with record held, size, diet, and habitat information. This book can be used for a research project by elementary students.

Steve Jenkins has written many informative books like this one. He has proven to be a trustworthy nonfiction writer. I highly recommend this and other Steve Jenkins books to parents and teachers to help keep students informed.

Review Excerpt:

NCTE Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 (1997)

NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 (1995) (Life Science, 1996)

Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award 1997-1998

From School Library Journal:

"Large, clear print; fascinating facts; and beautiful, detailed, cut-paper collages make this excellent title a delight."

From BookList:

"Beautiful double-page-spread cut-paper collages illustrate a picture book about "some of the biggest and smallest, fastest and slowest, strongest and longest" record holders in the animal world."

Connections:

Gather other Steve Jenkins books to read such as:

• Jenkins, Steve. Actual Size. ISBN: 978-0547512914
• Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? ISBN: 978-0618997138
• Jenkins, Steve. Never Smile At a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember. ISBN: 978-0544228016
• Jenkins, Steve. Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest. ISBN: 978-0618494880

Gather other books with animal facts to read such as:

• Randall. Ronne. Stanley, The Great Big Book of Everything. ISBN: 978-0786833849
• Simon, Seymour. Animal Fact/Animal Fable. ISBN: 978-0517537947
• Rittau, Francisco. Out of Sight. ISBN: 978-0811877121

Use these books for Science Animal Projects. They are great for research.

Use these books in an animal unit for facts, pictures and reading practice.

Use these books for acting out animals.

Use these books for critical thinking in giving clues and guessing what animal is being described.