The Animal Book

by Steve Jenkins

Animals smooth and spiky, fast and slow, hop and waddle through the two hundred plus pages of the Caldecott Honor artist Steve Jenkins’s most impressive nonfiction offering yet. Sections such as “Animal Senses,” “Animal Extremes,” and “The Story of Life” burst with fascinating facts and infographics that will have trivia buffs breathlessly asking, “Do you know a termite queen can produce up to 30,000 eggs a day?” Jenkins’s color-rich cut- and torn-paper artwork is as strikingly vivid as ever. Rounding out this bountiful browsers’ almanac of more than three hundred animals is a discussion of the artist’s bookmaking process, an animal index, a glossary, and a bibliography. A bookshelf essential!

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Science, Picture Books, Nature, Juvenile, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Steve was born in 1952 in Hickory, North Carolina. His father, who would become a physics professor and astronomer (and recently his co-author on a book about the Solar System), was in the military and, later, working on science degrees at several different universities. We moved often. Steve lived in North Carolina, Panama, Virginia, Kansas, and Colorado. Wherever he lived, he kept a menagerie of lizards, turtles, spiders, and other animals, collected rocks and fossils, and blew things up in his small chemistry lab.

Because he moved often, Steve didn't have a large group of friends, and he spent a lot of time with books. His parents read to him until he could read himself, and he became an obsessive reader.

His interest in science led me to believe that I'd be a scientist himself. At the last minute, he chose instead to go to art school in North Carolina, where he studied graphic design. After graduation he moved to New York City, where he worked in advertising and design, first in large firms and then with his wife, Robin Page, in their own small graphic design firm. Robin, also an author and illustrator, is his frequent collaborator — they've made sixteen children's books together.

Their daughter Page was born in 1986 and our son, Alec, two years later. They began reading to them when they were just a few months old, and Steve became interested in making children's books himself. My wife and I read to our two older children almost every night until hisdaughter was 12 or 13, long after they were reading on their own. It was, in many ways, the best part of the day.

In 1994 they moved to from New York City to Boulder, Colorado, where they work in a studio attached to their house, which was built in the 1880s and often functions as if it were still the 19th century.

Their youngest son, Jamie, was born in 1998. The questions his children asked over the years have been the inspiration for many of their books.

Librarian's Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is much to admire in this recent book by Steve Jenkins, hundreds of interesting facts offered about animals, an encyclopedia of animals largest to smallest, those that hide well, and those that are the top of the food chain. It is divided into sections including the organization of animals, how they become families, their senses and defenses, and a timeline of the story of life—wonderful. The illustrations show off the words of course. One of my favorite pages is the double-page spread of the Siberian tiger, telling that this is “life-sized”. If one holds the book up to one’s face, wow, it’s more than double the size of us humans! There is a glossary plus a bonus section at the back that shares, in detail, the long process of creating a non-fiction book. I hope everyone can find this and savor the work in this book, the information given, and the creativity that is evident.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading animal books that were clearly "designed" to appeal to kids. Big headlines, outrageous text, wild pictures. All of which would be insulting to that kid who REALLY knows his animals. You know the kid. He soaks up animal facts and understands ecosystems. This encyclopedic treatment of animals is just what that kid wants and needs. There are webs of interaction and predation, chapters formed around behaviors and defense systems, and an ambitious chapter on the history of life on Earth. Budding naturalists will leap for joy.

[Haley Corkery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. Not only was it interesting, enlightening, and engaging, the illustrations were incredible too. A must-read for anyone who loves animals or just wants to learn more about the animal kingdom. Glad I picked it up.

[Dna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Steve Jenkins' books sooooooo much!

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour-de-force for Jenkins and a must-own for animal lovers. This is the sort of book 10-year old Donalyn would have read over and over. Beautifully-illustrated with Jenkins' signature cut paper art, The Animal Book includes an encyclopedia of animal facts--grouped into categories like Defenses and Animal Extremes. Includes pages of additional animal facts, a glossary, and a fascinating timeline of Jenkins' writing process.

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenkins' usual magic with a couple of inspiring extras -
1) a note to readers at the beginning of this book about how he saw himself as a nature writer at six-years-old and images from a book "103 Animals" he authored and stapled together ;) at that age

2) a "making books" section at the end that describes his writing process - research, sketches-thumbnails-dummies, illustration plus a "making a book timeline."

This is more of a reference book than Jenkins' other books. Recommend book talking, reading aloud a few parts and then leaving in your classroom library to be snatched up!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is geared towards kids, as an adult animal lover I learned a lot from reading this. It provides facts about a wide variety of animals, many of which our household didn't know about previously.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few things that make me happier than a new Steve Jenkins book filled with interesting facts about the natural world and his ever-intriguing trademark cut- or torn-paper collages. I thought I had reached the supreme moment of pleasure with his recent pop-up book, but this one has met and exceeded my expectations. The title gives away the book's focus, of course, but the book itself, parts of which have appeared in earlier books by this talented artist, is a 208-page stroll through the animal kingdom. The inclusion of brief accounts of the illustrator's formative years, the inspiration for several of his books, and examples of how he creates his illustrations as well as the process through which a book goes before reaching readers' hands is a delightful bonus that makes this book an essential purchase for a classroom library. The book itself is divided into seven sections: Animals!, Family, Animal Senses, Predators, Defenses, Animal Extremes, and The Story of Life. Within each of these sections are even more subtopics, complete with writing intended to captivate readers and illustrations sure to leave them enthralled with the natural world. Some of the double-page spreads allow one animal to be examined in all its glory while others feature several animals accompanied by interesting tidbits. The facts never overwhelm readers and are provided in a pithy, matter-of-fact fashion that serves to prompt fascination and reflection. Not only does this man have a way with paper, but he deftly navigates his way through text and facts as well. To read a Steve Jenkins book such as this one is to come away full of wonder at the diversity of life on our planet and the shortness of humans' time on Earth.

[Aiyana Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this book amazed by every single page I turned, Each page shows up 1 to even 7 animals all on one page. Some focus on the bones of a bullfrog others focus on cheetahs, bears, bugs and fish. The book is divided up by eight sections! It was incredible to see what animal would be in each section. How they are divided up is by Animals, Family, Animal senses, Predators, defenses, animal extremes, the story of my life and more information. The sections show how animals see, smell, taste, look for food, what they use to look for food, what they eat, how they live, where they live, who they get along with and who they don't. Anything you can think of about animals is in this book. It doesn't not just focus on one animal or a selection of some, to sum it up any animal you can think of to a bear to a worm is in this book. When Steve Jenkins said this book was his favorite, I see why! You can tell how much work he put into it by the outcome you get by finishing reading the book. I never thought I was amazed and so interested in this book but this book by far has grabbed my attention and I did not want to put it down at all. The total experience you get from it is something I would describing is seeing every animal that is in the book in action. You get to visually see a picture and description them. I always seem to learn something new from one of Steve Jenkins books, For example I never near of a boxer crab till I read this book. This crab defends itself by plucking enemies with poison from hands which than he swings them around like boxing gloves. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, even if you are not interested into animals I would still pick this book up and read it only for the experience and knowledge you can in the end. Amazing book!

[Katherine Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

1) Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
-This informational book provides children of all ages on interesting facts and information on many, many different animals. Children, even those that cannot read, will enjoy going through the book and looking at all the pictures of all the different animals. The book provides information on animals all across the world, which also gives students information on what the weather and climate is like in different continents.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
-Pre-K (for pictures)- through 4th grade.
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
-Science
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
-Students who love animals
5) Small group use (literaturecircles) (1 pt)
-Students can look through the book in pairs or small groups and discuss the information. I would have students pick their favorite animal and then present information on it to the class.
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
-Read a portion of the book when it pertains to the lesson for the day. (For instance, if learning about amphibians, read a portion of the book that talks about frogs.)
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
-National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
-None available.

[aarifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting book about animals! And I had a great experience of a tigers face close up, a Goliath spider as a real view ( that was a gigantic spider), and other animals. And this answered some of my questions, like why do they crows bother a hawk? ( because the hawk threatans the crows that it is going to eat their babies and the crows mock it and chase it. That happened in my backyard a few times.) so yeah I am glad I got this book from the library.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a great animal book!

I have always loved animal books, especially those with great pictures. And this one is amazing. The things Jenkins can do with paper are truly astounding. And I learned so much. I kept stopping and telling people the amazing facts I was learning.

I will definitely be buying at least one more copy of this book for my library. The kids are going to love it!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Jenkins includes lots of little snippets of animal facts that could and should be used to springboard the reader into further research. The organization of this book is excellent, with timelines, charts and webs adding to the usual Jenkins facts. The "Making Books" section chronicles Jenkins' writing process (even if this is on his website, it is nice to see in the book.)

[Brandielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Jenkins is my hero. His nonfiction books are full of interesting, and scientifically accurate, and simple to understand, and perfectly explained facts. His art is simple and amazing. Please be my best friend.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most amazing book that Steve Jenkins has created. Outstanding and a must have. Worth reading over and over again.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you buy only one Steve Jenkins book this year, make it this one.

Be sure to watch this video on how the book was made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhJ1w...

[Julie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our whole family had so much fun with this being on a coffee table for a few weeks. Beautiful illustrations and fascinating animal facts; an art and science book combined.

[Cheryl]

There are two different books that look similar and have the same title. This is the one by Jenkins. The one by David Burnie and DK publishing is at my local library, but the Jenkins is not.

[Olya Nelepova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Це була найперша енциклопедія нашого старшого сина, коли йому було роки 4, він дуже любив її і завжди просив почитати. Тепер вже і молодший син достаньо виріс, щоб слухати цю книгу. І знову вона стала одразу улюбленою. Цього разу і молодший (5 років) і старший (9,5 років) слухали разом і просили читати ще і ще.

В книзі ну дуже багато цікавої і дивовижної інформації. Можна так багато дізнатися про тварин: особливості їхньої будови, різні цікаві фішки для навігації, незвичні способи полювати чи рятуватися від хижаків. І все це супроводжується стильними та просто шикарними ілюстраціями-колажами. Безумовно, книга чудова.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly appreciate a good Steve Jenkins book! This book, like his others, doesn't fail! It is a fun read, with bits of information divided into different sections within the contents (family, extremes, defenses, etc.). This book reminds me of an encyclopedia. One that you can open up, flip through, put back down, and come back too later. It is a wealth of information, put in terms understood by its upper elementary readers. Not to mention, the reader can experience all the wonderful art and illustrations done by Steve Jenkins himself!

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre - Informational
Grade Level - 4th-6th
The Animal Book contains hundreds of critters, from very tiny insects and reptiles like the recently discovered Amau frog to the huge fifty-foot-long oarfish and now-extinct Shastasaurus. The book is divided into 8 unique sections, each covering various themes such as animal senses, family, animal defenses, and a brief explanation of how these creatures evolved. They illustrations are very much detailed to look exactly like the animals. You can definitely learn a lot from this book.

[Jessica Johnson]

I think this book is really informal and it can really help students better understand different animals and what they are like. I would personally read this book to my class just to grow their knowledge about all different kinds of animals. The students would be really engaged in it and they could learn a lot from it.

[iam1bearcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to love about learning neat animal facts?

Sure, I wish there were actual pictures and not hand-created ones, but hey, no biggie. Learned lots of neat new facts and the timeline of events and when each species lived was great.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one to treasure and is a good investment for one's personal library. It's "a collection of the fastest, fiercest, toughest, cleverest, shyest - and most surprising - animals on earth." The only thing I can add to that is WOW! Love it!

[Hugo B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone who likes animals will like this book.

[Hannah Engle]

Grade level: 6th
Lexile level: IG1030

[Roslyn]

i like animal because i have a cat at home

[Jennifer Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animals

[Marcus Castro]

This book goes over the different animals and what characteristics they have. The book covers many interesting species that kids would be interested in learning about.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many amazing animals out there that have amazing features and this book has so much information about just that. Steve Jenkins' The animal book is a book that talks about many different animals and how they survive. One element of the book is the variety of the animals in the book. From mosquitos to penguins and to even giraffes, the author adds so many animal species that are all amazing. Another literary element is how realistic the pictures of the animals are. One last effective literary element is how the author explains each animal. Each animal is explained very thoroughly and the pictures represent that information. In conclusion, the animal book is a great book about the worlds animals. People who would really like this book would be animal lovers, future biologists, and people who just want to learn more about animals.