Biggest, Strongest, Fastest [Paperback]

Steve Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 1997 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

An informative introduction to the "world records" held by fourteen members of the animal kingdom. Each spread portrays an animal that is the largest, slowest, longest lived. Readers can see the animal's size in relation to something familiar.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2?Large, clear print; fascinating facts; and beautiful, detailed, cut-paper collages make this excellent title a delight. One main fact is presented per spread about each of 14 animals, e.g., "The Etruscan shrew, the world's smallest mammal, could sleep in a teaspoon." Two more relevant facts are given in smaller print. Silhouette drawings show comparative sizes?the blue whale is shown next to an adult human. The realistic, inventive, textured illustrations, mostly double spreads, flow smoothly from page to page. A helpful chart at the end contains further information about each creature, such as diet and habitat. An all-round superlative effort.?Jan Shepherd Ross, Dixie Elementary Magnet School, Lexington, KY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ages 4-9. Beautiful double-page-spread cut-paper collages illustrate a picture book about "some of the biggest and smallest, fastest and slowest, strongest and longest" record holders in the animal world. The facts are amazing. Their juxtaposition makes you gasp, not just about size and speed but about comparative wonders. Right after the African elephant, which eats more than 300 pounds of grass and leaves every day, there's a close-up two-page picture of an ant, which turns out to be the strongest animal for its size: it can carry five times its own weight. The book's design makes it accessible at many levels. The youngest can identify the various creatures. Preschoolers can enjoy the one-sentence descriptions in large type ("The cheetah can run faster than any other animal. . . . The flea is very small, but it is the world's best jumper"). Older kids will love thinking about the additional facts regarding scale and proportion that are printed in small type, accompanied by a tiny silhouette in the corner of each picture ("If a 5 1/2-foot-tall woman could jump as well as a flea, she could leap to the top of a 65-story building"). Here's proof that power isn't just about size and that science can be a lot of fun. Hazel Rochman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (August 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395861365
• ISBN-13: 978-0395861363
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 10 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Zoology
  • #7 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Zoology
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > General > Nonfiction

More About the Author

Steve Jenkins has written and illustrated nearly twenty picture books for young readers, including the Caldecott Honor-winning What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? His books have been called stunning, eyepopping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious, and informative. He lives in Colorado with his wife and frequent collaborator, Robin Page, and their children. To learn more about Steve and his books, visit www.stevejenkinsbooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve Jenkins Rocks!, October 15, 2004

By 

Allison (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (Hardcover)

Ever since I discovered Steve Jenkins, I've been seeking out each and every one of his books. I love his illustration style, and his books lay the groundwork for a love of science and an interest in the wonders of the world. This book nicely complements Animal Dads, What Do You Do With a Tail Like This, and What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You. All of these titles illustrate biological variation, adaptation, and the relationship between form and function. Yet the illustrations are bold and uncluttered and the text is short and easy to read aloud. Like his other books, Biggest, Strongest, Fastest features the main text in a large font with additional information (2 or 3 sentences) in a smaller font. You can decide to read more about an animal depending on your child's interest level. What I really like about this book is that it also takes advantage of children's natural fascination with superlatives. You don't just read about any snake, you learn about the biggest snake (the anaconda). Every new animal illustration is accompanied by a smaller picture showing the relative sizes of the animal and a human. Preschoolers and kindergarteners absorb new information and facts like a sponge, so don't be surprised if your child starts to recite information from the book when you visit the zoo. Whether you simply want to celebrate diversity in animal life or you want to lay a foundation for discussing evolution when a child is older, this book is a great choice for young children.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even I Liked It, January 15, 2010

By 

Mark K. Wickersham "Wick" (Tianjin, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (Paperback)

My daughters (ages 4 and 7) really enjoy being read to, and this is one book that we own that I actually enjoy reading to them. I like this book because it has not only taught my girls some facts about the animal kingdom, but I have learned as well. We really enjoy learning about the diverse animals found around the world, and Jenkins' book has led us to learning more about these animals on YouTube. My girls always want me to quiz them about the animals found in this book. Simple one-sentence facts are provided of each animal, and additional facts that are more detailed are provided in smaller font. The bright cut-paper collages of the animals are eye-catching, and I really like the helpful chart at the back of the book. All 14 animals are listed, and information concerning the size, diet, location and uniqueness of each animal is provided. This was a great Christmas gift from grandpa and grandma.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, September 26, 2007

By 

MomOfTwo (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (Paperback)

My 5-year old son never gets tired of reading this book! Great details and context provided, so that a young child can grasp just how big, fast, strong, etc., these animals are.