Module 11, Actual Size

Cover

Actual Size, By Steve Jenkins 

Overview: Actual Size is a colorful book of information about the actual size of an array of animals. As you read about each animal a picture is illustrated of the either a part or entire body for readers enjoyment. 

Jenkins, S. (2011). Actual Size. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Little Library Review: Actual Size is a really amazing book because it gives readers a glimpse of animals they otherwise may never see. Someone may tell you how big a bears paw is but Steve Jenkins shows you, which is many ways is more powerful. This book is good for any age reader to enjoy, compare and have fun with animals and their many sizes.   

Other Professional Reviews: PreS-Gr 5-- In striking torn-and-cut paper collages, Jenkins depicts 18 animals and insects-or a part of their body-in actual size. One illustration compares an atlas moth with a 12-inch wingspan to a dwarf goby fish, which is 1/3-inch long. The eye of a giant squid, at a foot across, occupies a spread to terrific effect; only the snout and tongue-curling its two-foot length across two pages and littered with termites-are visible in the picture of the giant anteater. The hand of a gorilla fills a page opposite the entire pygmy mouse lemur with its tiny human-fingertip-sized palm. The saltwater crocodile grows to 23 feet, so tremendous that its head occupies a three-page foldout. On the reverse side is the rat-eating Goliath frog, a staggering 36 inches long in full hop. One or two lines of text briefly introduce each animal and give specific measurements, e.g., the gorilla stands 5 ½ feet tall and weighs 600 pounds, while the mouse lemur is 2 ½ inches tall and weighs 1 ounce. The end matter offers full pictures of the creatures and more details about their habitats and habits. 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.

Ratterree, D. (2004). Actual Size (Book). School Library Journal, 50(6), 128

Using it in the Library 📖: This book would be a good resource book to use for collecting information about animals featured in the book. Steve Jenkins also includes measurement and sizes, it would be fun to really use measurement tools to measure the illustrations. A variety of tools could be used. Students could also recreate a similar styled book of real items and their actual sizes.