Actual Size

Actual Size. Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins. 2004. New York: Houghton Mifflin. 28 p. (0618375945).

Author/Illustrator Website: www.stevejenkinsbooks.com

Media: cut and torn paper collage
  
Awards and Honors: BCBB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book, Orbis Pictus Honor Book, International Reading Association 'Children's Choice 2005', CHILD Magazine 'Best Book of the Year', A Booklist Editor's Choice, A New York Public Library's '100 Titles for Reading and Sharing', Natural History 'Best Books for Young Readers' 2004, Chicago Public Library 'Best of the Best', Children's Liteature Choice List 2004

Audience: Preschoolers and Up

Annotation:
Jenkins displays the beauty and variation of the animal kingdom in actual size. 

Personal Reaction:
Steve Jenkins is known for his beautiful and detailed torn paper collages. While most illustrators working in this medium illustrate picture book stories, Jenkins employs his distinctive style to illustrate non-fiction books. 

Actual Size is an exploration of some of the biggest, heaviest and longest animals on earth- all shown true to size. Jenkin's meticulous attention to detail and rich textures create images that almost leap from the page. Some animals like the Goliath beetle (length: 6 inches, weight: 3.5 ounces) are shown in their entirety, while others like the giant squid (length: up to 59 feet) are only partially shown. (The giant squid's 12 inch eye takes up an entire two page spread!)

Each animal is accompanied by only a line or two of descriptive text, but Jenkins includes back matter that shows the whole animal and includes additional facts. 

This is a great pick for young animal lovers and science classrooms.