The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest [Paperback]

Steve Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In this stunning picture book, Steve Jenkins takes us to Mount Everest - exploring its history, geography, climate, and culture. This unique book takes readers on the ultimate adventure of climbing the great mountain. Travel along and learn what to pack for such a trek and the hardships one may suffer on the way to the top. Avalanches, frostbite, frigid temperatures, wind, and limited oxygen are just a few of the dangers that make scaling this peak one of the most extreme physical challenges one can experience. To stand on the top of Mount Everest is to stand on top of the world. With informative text and exquisitely detailed cut paper illustrations, Steve Jenkins brings this extreme journey alive for young adventurers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Addressing readers as would-be Everest explorers, Jenkins's book is a compendium of historical info and practical tips, illustrated with stunning cut-paper collage, wrote PW. Ages 6-10.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Grade 2-6-A windfall of facts about Everest and the daring mountaineers who have attempted to reach its summit. Breathtaking cut-paper collages capture the dramatic vistas and the frightening realities of high-altitude climbs.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (April 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618196765
• ISBN-13: 978-0618196760
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 5.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Action & Adventure
  • #64 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Sports > Miscellaneous

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

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, creative, absorbing, and my kids love it!, January 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest (Hardcover)

I bought this book because I love Steve Jenkins' other books. His technique is so creative--the papers he uses (I wonder if he makes some of them) and how he uses them evoke so much--texture, color, temperature. My 8 and 10 year old boys loved this book, and we are Mt. Everest nuts. There's plenty of room on the bookshelf for books with photos (Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory & Irvine is truly wonderful), but Jenkins' book is not only informative--very!--but it is poetry with paper. I highly recommend this book, along with Jenkins' other terrific books.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Facts, Interesting For Young (and older) Readers, September 18, 2005

By 

Wayne A. Smith (Newark, DE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest (Hardcover)

This is a neat book. My seven year old, who has been into a real Mt. Everest phase for about six months, loves it.

In a few pages, this book clearly tells about climbing the earth's highest peak, provides a lot of really interesting factoids about Mt. Everest, maps the way up the mountain and displays some of the equipment high mountain climbers must carry. The reader will also learn about how mountains are formed, a bit about the Sherpas and their reverence for the mountain and many other interesting things.

Both my son and I have enjoyed this very much. It is a good basic book for kids who have learned to read and are moving to more challenging subjects. That this subject is interesting as well is a plus.

I couldn't decide if I liked the illustrations or not. No photos, just Eric Carle-style cut-outs (but much more realistic and finely detailed than Carle's work). The illustrations work well and are detailed, but I would have enjoyed a couple of photographs of the mountain.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for kids and adults alike!, August 10, 2001

By 

the__muse "the__muse" (Pacific Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest (Hardcover)

A phenomenal book that takes the reader on a trek up Mount Everest. Torn paper collage illustrations are a beautiful complement to the informative facts about Mt. Everest and mountain climbing. The book is full of fun and interesting facts. I especially appreciated the comparative illustrations that showed the relative heights of the seven highest mountains and the mountain life on Mt. Everest.