ORBIS PICTUS

Actual Size

Author/Illustrator: Steve Jenkens

Jenkins, S. (2004). Actual size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Genre: Informational

Awards: 2005 Orbis Pictus Honor, Editors' Choice Top of the List Winner 2004 Youth Nonfiction, The Children's Literature Choice 2005, Natural History Best Books for Young Readers 2004

Summary: Collage illustrations allow children to see the actual size of different animal parts...including a full size giant worm.  

How this book relates to young children: Children will enjoy seeing how they "measure up" to the animals in the book.

How I would use this book with young children: Use during a science lesson when discussing animal characteristics.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins

Author: Barbara Kerley
Illustrator: Brian Selznick

Kerley, B., Selznick, B., Saylor, D., & Scholastic Inc. (2001). The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins: An illuminating history of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins, artist and lecturer. New York: Scholastic.

Genre: Biography

Awards: 2002 Orbis Pictus Honor, 2002 Caldecott Honor

Summary: Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins becomes the first person to sketch and build models of dinosaurs.  The illustrations are based on Hawkins' own personal sketches and have deep vivid colors.

How this book relates to young children: Children will love imagining a time
when people had no idea what dinosaurs looked like and then having dinner inside one!

How I would use this book with young children: Can be used during a unit on dinosaurs or as part of a study of inventors and artists.

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator

Author: Shelley Tanaka
Illustrator: David Craig

Tanaka, S., & Craig, D. (2008). Amelia Earhart: The legend of the lost aviator. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Genre: Biography

Awards: 2009 Orbis Pictus Award, 2008  Cybil Award Finalist

Summary: The biography of Amelia Earhart told in picture book form, with lots of text and full page paintings as the illustrations based on original photographs. 

How this book relates to young children: Children will enjoy reading about Earhart in a format they are more comfortable with.

How I would use this book with young children: A great book to use as part of a social studies unit on American heroes.