Biggest, Strongest, Fastest

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. 1995. BIGGEST, STRONGEST, FASTEST. Ill. by Steve Jenkins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395697018

2.      PLOT SUMMARY

Biggest, Strongest, Fastest is a children’s introduction into world records held by fourteen members of the animal kingdom.

3.      CRITCAL ANALYSIS

This title is basically a world record book for children, with the focus being on animals. And what child wouldn’t be interested to know that an ant is the strongest animal—for its size, that is. Steve Jenkins does a wonderful job of gathering the most interesting facts about fourteen members of the animal kingdom and compiling them into a one stop shop for 4 to 8 year olds.

The illustrations, designed by Jenkins, are paper collage, reproduced in full color. Each animal gets its own page—sometimes even two or three pages depending on its size! This is a fun book to read aloud to children, or for beginning readers to read to themselves. The artwork is simple enough for young ones being introduced to these animals as well entertaining for the older kids to point out and name.

4.      REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review in BOOKLIST: “Beautiful double-page-spread cut-paper collages illustrate a picture book…”

Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Large, clear print; fascinating facts; and beautiful, detailed, cut-paper collages make this excellent title a delight.”

5.      CONNECTIONS

*Perhaps lead the children in a discussion about what their favorite animals are, and why.

*Check out other works of children’s nonfiction by this author:

Jenkins, Steve. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMETHING WANTS TO EAT YOU? ISBN 0618152431

Jenkins, Steve. HOTTEST, COLDIST, HIGHEST, DEEPEST. ISBN 061849488X