Jenkins, Steve. The Beetle Book, Jenkins, Steve. Houghton Mifflin. New York. 2012. ISBN: 9780-0-547-68084-2
Plot Summary
This Non-Fiction selection by Steve Jenkins includes amazing facts about beetles in our very big world. Showing the reader beetles in true size shape and color at times and other unbelievable facts of a species that inhabits almost every corner of the Earth.
Critical Analysis
I think The Beetle Book was written with an upper elementary student in mind. The reading level is set at an accomplished fifth-grade range and the font is especially laborious at times to read, but the information included is eye-opening and at times exciting.
My two-year-old had very little interest in this book other than the creative illustration done in torn and cut paper collage. He would hit the beetles and scream, “Ewww Yuck!” and giggle. Other times he would cringe and say “Scary, scary beetle.” Which added more fun to this factual book. My five-year-old and husband, on the other hand, thought the book was in her words, “So cool!” They as well as I was shocked at some of the facts we learned. The size of some beetles for instance or even acid shooting capabilities that some beetles have.
If my Fifth-grade students were studying any living organisms I would include this election in their bank of choices as the facts are simple and interesting to understand and the illustrations are eye-catching.
Jenkins illustrations done in cut and torn paper collage are among my favorite types of art medium. The colors are bold and exciting making it easier to become interested in beetles. If the book was done with real images the interest factor may not have been the same for my children, husband and me.
Other Reviews
“Through striking illustrations and intriguing information, this large-format book introduces the world of beetles. The text opens with the startling information that one-quarter of every kind of plant and animal on Earth is a beetle.” Booklist starred review
"Jenkins's enthusiasm for his subject shines through in this rich and varied compendium."--School Library Journal, starred review
Connections
“Eye to Eye” Steve Jenkins
“Down Down Down” Steve Jenkins
“Actual Size” Steve Jenkins
Caldecott Honor book “What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?” Steve Jenkins
Activity
Creating images using cut and torn paper collage adding facts if available. To create a book of facts much like Jenkins creations.
Bibliography
Kerley, Barbara. What to do about Alice?”. Fotheringham, Edwin. Scholastic Press. New York. 2008 ISBN- 978-0439922319
Plot Summary
This biography by Barbara Kerley recounts the life of Alice Lee Roosevelt daughter or President Theodore Roosevelt. Kerley gives you a heart-warming account of a family with a member that just doesn’t want to do anything like anyone else and how a father can love her through it all.
Critical Analysis
This biography is about the very unique life of Alice Lee Roosevelt. President Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter. Beginning with her sad entry into the world losing her mother at age two. To her antics in the night leading her father and the public to question her behavior, and finishing with her marriage and contributions to many political parties. All the while understanding the question Teddy would ask himself “What to do About Alice?”
Kerley used Alice’s mantra of “Eating up the World” to give us an energized example of living a life to the fullest. I found myself reevaluating some life choices of my own and changes to make that I would be fun because Alice’s life seemed carefree and exciting. As a reader, I truly felt like I could or even need to remember that I can step out of my comfort zone and experience more of the world around me.
Fotheringham’s illustrations reminded me of images from the movie Mary Poppins. Poppins was also ready to take risks and step out of others comfort zones. In a way, it makes sense that I would think about her after reading this selection they were both extraordinary women. Fotheringham has illustrated other work’s by Kerley and it has done them both well. Fotheringham is able to capture the imagery Kerley writes and has lead them to award-winning accolades.
Other Reviews
"Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." --Starred Review, Booklist
"Theodore Roosevelt s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms and largely succeeded." --Starred Review, Kirkus
Connections
“The Extraordinary Mark Twain”, “Those Rebels, John & Tom”, and “A Home for Mr. Emerson” all written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
Activity
Have students do a Flipgrid reflection on the life of Alice Roosevelt and include something they would like to do that they have been scared to do or think that they may never get a chance to do. Then finish by stating what they think Alice Roosevelt would say to their idea.
Johnston, Tony. Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants. Innerst, Stacy. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co. New York, New York. 2011. ISBN – 978-0152061456
Plot Summary
This selection which at first glance gives you the impression is a biography or the life of Levi Strauss is actually written more a Tall Tale retelling of Strauss’ start as the world most recognized pants outfitter.
Critical Analysis
Johnston who wears jeans all the time as she calls them her “blue skin” had a rhyme stuck in her head and it lead her to write this hilarious tale of Levi Strauss. It is the gold Rush and everyone is heading west to find the fortune. These miners soon find themselves in tattered to no clothing. Straus makes his way to California and sees there is a need for something. While thinking in his made of jean material tent he decides to try something and cuts up his tent and tailors some pants. The onlooker miners see these jeans and must have them. Strauss’ life as a jeans tailor begins and it is a hoot to read.
As I read this story to my children and husband we giggled often at the outrageous happenings throughout. My husband even shouted out “That’s why the bad guys in Bugs Bunny cartoons wore barrels!” He realized that a lot of the storylines took place during the Gold Rush era. “There’s gold in them there hill’s” he remembered and I can tell you when my husband said that I had the same “Ah ha” moment as well.
The illustrations done by Stacy Innerst were painted on actual old Levi Jeans which made the tale even more fun to look through. My daughter was the first to point this detail out as she noticed the pictures looked like they were on jeans. After reading the dust jacket of the book for info. I was able to tell my daughter that the paintings were really done on jeans. She didn’t know you could do that which led us into discussions on how art can be done and displayed on anything and it really didn’t matter what was used.
Other Reviews
"Johnston creates an unrepentantly exaggerated version of events that is sure to entertain, offering more factual information about Strauss in an author's note. Using a bright idea of his own, Innerst (Lincoln Tells a Joke) chronicles the raucous action in acrylic paintings on a canvas of, yes, old Levi's jeans. The denim's texture provides an appropriately rugged tone to the colorful proceedings."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"By the second spread, with miners working in their long johns or, discreetly, "in the vanilla," listeners will be thoroughly hooked. The humor is broad and the language inventive, yet reminiscent of the times."--Kirkus Reviews
Connections
‘Levi Strauss and Blue Jeans: Inventions and Discovery” by Nathan Olson
“Mr. Blue Jeans: A story about Levi Strauss” by Maryann N. Weidt
Activity
Have students paint on pieces of jeans. If the jeans are cut into squares they could be sewn to create a quilt.
Montgomery, Sy. Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud forest of New Guinea. Bishop, Nic. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston. 2006 ISBN- 978-0547248929
Plot Summary
This is the story of Lisa Dabek a scientist on the hunt to do research on the elusive tree kangaroo of Papua New Guinea. Lisa leads a team of eight including Sy Montgomery the author of this selection and Nic Bishop the photographer to capture, attach monitoring collars and release the tree kangaroos back into their home in the trees.
Critical Analysis
Montgomery starts off with a map showing the location of New Guinea so we can really see how far scientists and expeditioners go to do research. Then to include background on one of his main characters Lisa Dabek the lead scientist and the reason for the for the expedition. He gives you a person to relate to throughout and gives us someone to almost cheer for as we go through the expedition along with Lisa.
The pictures by Bishop are breathtakingly beautiful. I immediately wanted to go to New Guinea and climb the mountains to get to the forest in the clouds. It definitely is a place untouched by the outside world. One that you would definitely see in a movie and expect it was created on a movie set as it looks so unreal.
I know that I am not the biggest fan of Non Fiction text and I admit that I had to read this book in parts. I was not prepared for this text and I know that this isn’t my usual read, but this selection gives a great account of what it is like to go on an expedition and what it feels like to accomplish goals together and work with a team. I think suggesting this as a read to students interested in exploring would be a good start and I know that my fifth graders would definitely appreciate the pictures included on every page.
Other Reviews
“This book is an amazing way of expressing the expedition for the Tree Kangaroo. This is the best nonfiction book ever!” - Amazon review
“Love this book. We live in Papua New Guinea and it is hard to find books that the school children can read and relate to in English this one is great.” – Amazon review
* I thought this review was neat as it shows that we (Americans) aren’t the only people in the world reading this book. There are other people in different parts of the world wanting to read and learn about the same things as us.
Connections
“Shakelton’s Journey” by William Grill
“First to the top: sir Edmund Hillary’s Amazing Everest Adventure” by David Hill
Activity
Become explores on your own expedition using iPads take students on a Google Expeditions field trip to explore New Guinea.
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