Bibliographic Data
Animals Upside Down
By Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
Houghton Mifflin Book for Children ©2013
ISBN: 9780547341279
Brief Plot Summary
Animals flip upside down for many
reasons. They can be defending themselves or looking for food. Jenkins and Page
present short fun musings in a whimsical pop-up format. Then conclude with a
two-page spread of additional animal facts.
Critical Analysis
Animals Upside Down is a
concept informational book about a single topic, animals that are upside down.
Books of this type are good for vocabulary and this title is no exception.
Jenkins and Page introduce animals by their specific names and litter facts
with higher level vocabulary.
(Ensnared and tendrils are not words you hear
everyday)
Also in the style of concept books
the reader will find an exploration of animal characteristics, defense
mechanisms, sleep habits, food consumption, etc.
Accuracy is important in children’s
informational texts; however Jenkins and Page do not cite their sources. This
would be less than optimal if Jenkins was not already well known for his
interest in science and his past works.
This book is loosely organized by
themed page spreads. For example there is a two-page spread of animal’s defense
mechanisms. It lacks a table of contents and an index. It’s so short that the
reader could flip through to locate information.
(Themed pages: defense mechanisms)
Jenkins is a graphic designer. Using
ripped paper he playfully displays the animal facts via pop-ups and moving
tabs. The movements convey meaning and the real life actions of the featured
animals.
(Pull the tab to see how this creature would move)
The background of the pictures is
white making the art stand out. The text is in Arial, a simple and easy to read
font. Animal names are bolded for quick identification. Each animal includes a
fact comprised of a single sentence.
(Examples of facts, fonts, and arrangement)
Jenkins and Page encourage readers
to wonder about these animals. Naturally as we ask more questions additional
information is provided at the end.
(More facts at the end of the book)
Review Excerpt(s)
“The animals are all rendered with
typically amazing accuracy from pieces of cut and torn paper.” -Kirkus (Kirkus
Reviews, December 1, 2013 (Vol. 81, No. 23))
“Families will find this the perfect
choice for any child fascinated by animals and old enough to handle a hands-on
book of tabs and expanded animal images.” -Midwest Book Review (Children's
Bookwatch, September 2013)
Connections
Steve Jenkins official website:
Mini-documentary of Steve Jenkins in his studio:
After learning about how Jenkins creates his art, have students select
an animal and create a piece using ripped paper and glue. Then have them find a
fact of that animal and write it on their work.
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