What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?

What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?

Written and Illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Accessed October 30th, 2013 

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/what-do-you-do-when-something-wants-to-eat-you-id-0618152431.aspx

Summary

What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? is a delightful concept book that illustrates some of the more unusual ways animals and insects escape being eaten.

Critical Analysis

            Steve Jenkins straightforward book What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? provides straightforward factual statements coupled with delightful illustration informing readers of the lengths insects and animals will go to in order to live another day. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? does not provide an index, bibliography or any other reference information, rather the reader relies on the credibility of Jenkins himself. Jenkins has written, co-written and illustrated 30 books – most of them nonfiction. According to his website (accessed October 30^th, 2013) Jenkins had grown up with a passion for science that was learned from his physicist father (who co-authored one of his books). While many of the defense mechanisms provided by Jenkins are considered common knowledge (puffer fish do inflate themselves when they encounter danger – common knowledge) other facts are coupled with specific information - flying fish can glide “as far as a thousand feet” (Jenkins, pg. 17, 1997) and the reader would benefit from references that prove Jenkins’ statements. Despite the lack of sources sited Steve Jenkins has been the recipient of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award, Colorado Children’s Book Award, the Booklist Editor’s Choice Award, NY Public Library Notable Author, Caldacott Honor Recipient and one of the School Library Journal 100 Titles for Reading Award. Jenkins’ books are also published by the renowned Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, which publishes a large number of children’s nonfiction titles adding credibility to Jenkins’ statements.

            The organization of What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? is a straightforward list of defense mechanisms that is sure to delight and amaze young readers and the mix between insects and animals provides enchanting variety. The book itself is colorful, attractive and the layout of the creatures and their defense mechanisms provides both tension and relief as the reader witnesses the peril and escape of the amazing creatures within the books pages.

            With sparse text it is the illustrations that are truly the highlight of What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?. Jenkins’ highly detailed, highly accurate collage styled illustrations draw the reader into the book and provide a realistic look at the unique and often strange ways that prey has developed to outmaneuver predators. The color and texture of Jenkins’ illustrations makes re-reading this title a must.

Awards

1998 Outstanding Science Trade Book

Booklist Editor’s Choice, 1998

The Best Children’s Book of the Year, 1998

Bank Street College of Education’s Editor’s Choice Award, 1997

Reviews

Publishers Weekly (11/10/1997):
In this absorbing tribute to nature's genius, cut-paper collages illustrate the built-in defenses of animals and insects. Using collage to represent a diverse range of critters from the leathery lizard to the airy silkmoth, Jenkins (Big and Little) artfully matches handmade papers to fur, feathers, scales and skin. The artistic diversity is surpassed only by the animals' modes of escape--such as camouflage (a harmless hoverfly takes on a wasp's appearance), surprise (a skink flashes its bright blue tongue and wags it side to side), chemical warfare (a bombardier beetle shoots poison out of its rear end) and even levitation (a basilisk lizard runs on water). Although the forthright text lacks the dexterity of the collages, the high interest of the subject matter is sure to delight readers--and may prompt them to discover more about the intelligence, humor, eccentricity and stamina to be found in nature. This is the kind of book that awakens the scientist in young readers. Ages 4-8.

School Library Journal (11/01/1997):
Gr 3-5--Jenkins answers the question of what different creatures do when another wants them for dinner. He identifies the animal on one page ("the bombardier beetle defends itself...") and then follows up with its defense mechanism on the next ("by shooting a mixture of hot chemicals from its rear end and into the face of an attacker"). The artist's trademark cut-paper collages on textured backgrounds show both attacker and potential prey on one page, and then a close-up of the animal escaping on the next. Defenses include mimicry, camouflage, and speed as well as specific responses such as the ink that octopuses use or the puffer fish's ability to expand itself. The final page invites readers to imagine, "What would you do if something wanted to eat you?" Useful for teachers introducing animal defenses and the terms that go along with the subject and a great choice for a storytime.

Booklist (12/01/1997):
/*Starred Review*/ Ages 4-8. Fourteen different animals escape their predators in this thrilling, beautiful science book illustrated with Jenkins' dramatic cut-paper collages. On each right-hand page, there is a tense, close-up confrontation between an animal and its attacker: turn the page, and the prey has tricked the predator with camouflage and other self-defense tactics. The first example is an octopus, but most of the creatures will be new to children, from the hover fly (which mimics the appearance of a wasp) and the hog-nosed snake (which plays dead) to the South American basilisk "Jesus Christ" lizard (which uses its large feet and great speed to run across the surface of water). There is less text here than in some of Jenkins' other books, and children will want to find out more about the particular animals and their behaviors and habitats. The collages are clear and uncluttered; each brilliantly colored picture draws your eye to the dangerous standoff. The scenes vary from the deep blue of the ocean depths to the grainy brown of a tree trunk, and set against these backgrounds are dramatic details of the transformation that allows the animal to survive. The final question--which is also the title of the book--makes clear why these zoological facts have the mythic power to scare us and connect us with the natural world. Even as kids shudder at the bared teeth of the predator, they will identify with the trickster who gets away.

Connections

Unusual Creatures: A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of Earth's Strangest Animals by Michael Hearst is a humorous fact based book that informs readers of some of the strangest creatures in existence. Taking What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? a step further, older children will surely enjoy an expanded list of defense mechanisms that provides lengthier textual descriptions of some of the strangest animal behaviors out there.

References

Booklist 12/01/1997 pg. 633 (EAN 9780395825143, Library Binding) - *Starred Review

Hearst, Michael. 2012. Unusual Creatures: A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of Earth's Strangest Animals. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN 9781452104676

Jenkins, Steve. 1997. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0547416970

Publishers Weekly 11/10/1997 pg. 73 (EAN 9780395825143, Library Binding)

School Library Journal 11/01/1997 pg. 109 (EAN 9780395825143, Library Binding)

The Tarantula Scientist

The Tarantula Scientist

Written by Sy Montgomery and Photographed by Nic Bishop

Accessed October 30th, 2013

http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/the-tarantula-scientist/9780618147991#

Summary

The Tarantula Scientist is an information packed book that follows arachnologist Sam Marshall as he gathers information from around the globe to both study tarantulas and bring awareness to this mysterious, misunderstood spider.

Critical Analysis

            The Tarantula Scientist follows Sam Marshall, one of four arachnologist who specialize in tarantulas in the whole world, as he studies theses magnificent spiders. By setting The Tarantula Scientist around a credible scientist who is at the top of his field, readers understand that the information contained in this book is accurate, fact checked and incredibly current – there are discoveries made on the behavior of tarantulas during the writing process of this book! The Tarantula Scientist is chocked full of maps, facts, diagrams and a whole section that is dedicated to explaining how the book was researched. The Tarantula Scientist contains an index, a bibliography, a list of spider terminology (Spider Speak), and update on Sam Marshall and his research, an extra list of spider stats (as if the book didn’t have enough!), a list of web resources for learning more about tarantulas, information on French Guiana (where a large portion of the book takes place) and information for individuals who are so in love with tarantulas that they want to buy one as a pet!

            The organization of the Tarantula Scientist is logical and readable and is organized in such a way that it follows the flow of scientific discovery – field research, lab research, collaboration and advocacy. The progression of the book allows readers to build upon knowledge acquired at the beginning of the book and to expand their knowledge from just spider facts to incorporate that knowledge into a budding foundation of ecology and conservation. Readers discover the scientific process of research and taxonomy and how their own everyday observations can become part of that scientific process. The Tarantula Scientist even goes so far as to inform readers of how to spider watch in their own community and offers tips, such as the best time of day to observe spiders, so that readers can act on the spider passion that the book instills. The clear chapters break down the information into entertaining readable segments that are tied together by Sam Marshall’s quest to learn more about the population and habits of the Goliath Tarantula. On nearly every page, in burnt sienna colored text, Montgomery peppers the book with relevant exciting facts that support each chapter’s subject.

            The photographs within The Tarantula Scientist are spectacular! Vivid close-ups of tarantulas provide a crisp colorful look at these mysterious spiders. The quality of the photographs provides readers with a rare perspective of these shy spiders and illustrates the hard work that Sam Marshall goes to in order to study these spiders in their natural habitat. The photographs are large, often taking up more than one page and capture the tarantulas from absolutely every angle possible.

Writer Sy Montgomery pulls no punches when providing a complete look at tarantulas as a species or the scientists who study them. Sy is in her own right a naturalist, a documentarian, a journalist and author of award winning nonfiction for children and adults. Sy Montgomery has been awarded the 2000 International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award for nonfiction for The Snake Scientist (which was also an Orbis Pictus Honor Book) and her book The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans was a 2001 Booklist Editors Choice. Montgomery’s partner in the Tarantula Scientist is photographer Nic Bishop. Bishop holds a PHD in Biology and is a decorated photographer whose books have garnered an ALA Notable Book award, a Smithsonian Notable Book award and a 2000 School Library Journal Best Book Award. Between these two decorated individuals, coupled with Sam Marshall’s knowledge and expertise, and the knowledge of Marshall’s students and fellow scientists, readers come away from The Tarantula Scientist with a balanced perspective of what these amazing spiders are truly like (keep in mind that Sam Marshall has never been bitten by a tarantula!) along with a new respect that helps separate the fear and the legend from the reality of the amazing tarantula.

Connections

While I generally try and use this section of my reviews for making connections between books, the wealth of information available in The Tarantula Scientist has inspired me to touch on this particular title and the connections that this book has to offer. The Tarantula Scientist prompts readers to explore not only spiders but also the habitats of these amazing creatures. Readers, teachers, parents and caretakers can follow the clear printed links to learn more about the habitats of these amazing spiders from French Guiana to right here in the United States! Teacher resources are also available for free through the publishing company’s website along with recommended reading for those interested in owning a tarantula of their very own!

Awards

• 2005 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

• 2004 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year

• 2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award

• 2004 John Burroughs Honor List of Nature Books for Children

• 2005 National Science Teachers Association and Children’s Book Council

• Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children. The book received the further distinction of being noted as a “Selector's Choice” among these outstanding works for children.

• 2005 Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts

• 2005 Voice of Youth Advocates Nonfiction Honor List consider the top books of the year.

Reviews

Horn Book Magazine (07/01/2004):
Writer and photographer team up again to bring us another excellent entry in the Scientist in the Field series. We follow arachnologist Sam Marshall on a field expedition to South America, and then back to his laboratory in Ohio to investigate several tarantula species. Information about spider basics, spider silk, and how to observe your own local spiders is woven into the main narrative. Montgomery is effective in showing how scientists' research questions integrate their field and laboratory study, and how Marshall's enthusiasm drives his scientific work. The additional profiles of undergraduates in the lab illustrate manageable projects, inviting young readers to imagine themselves as researchers someday (and the students profiled are women, helping to dispel any stereotypes about which gender likes spiders). Unlike other books in the series, the discussion of Marshall's childhood and initial interest in science is brief. The color photography is outstanding, and so very interesting that even the squeamish may take a second look at the glossy and hairy tarantulas portrayed in close detail in both their natural and laboratory habitats. Appended material includes a list of websites, a bibliography, a glossary, and an index

Booklist (03/15/2004):
Gr. 4-7. Montgomery and Bishop, who worked together on " Snake Scientist" (1999), team up once again to deliver another fascinating slice of the natural world. This time they venture to the French Guiana rain forest, where they follow arachnologist Sam Marshall on his quest for his favorite quarry: tarantulas. Enthusiasm for the subject and respect for both Marshall and his eight-legged subjects come through on every page of the clear, informative, and even occasionally humorous text. Bishop's full-color photos, which concentrate on detail, not scale, are amazing--Marshall coaxing an elusive tarantula into the open or bringing readers literally face-to-face with a hairy spider. The section on students' research seems tacked on, but it adds an interesting sidelight to the book, which is longer and richer in both text and illustrations than others in the Scientists in the Field series. Readers will come away armed with facts about spiders in general and tarantulas in particular, but even more important, they'll have a clear understanding of how the answers derived from research become the roots of new, intriguing questions.

           

References

Booklist 03/15/2004 pg. 1304 (EAN 9780618147991, Hardcover)

Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2004 pg. 469 (EAN 9780618147991, Hardcover)

Montgomery, Sy. 2004. The Tarantula Scientist. Photographed by Nic Bishop. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618147993

What to do About Alice?

What To Do About Alice?

Written By Barbara Kerley and Illustrated By Edwin Fotheringham

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/books/review/Posesorski-t.html?_r=0 Accessed October 29th, 2013

Summary

            From the day she was born, Alice Roosevelt, first daughter of America, never let anything, not her presidential father Theodore Roosevelt nor the conservative ladies of the day, get in her way of “eating up the world”.

Critical Analysis

            Barbara Kerley’s What to do About Alice? is  a children’s biography that reads like a picture book and yet provides copious information on the life of Alice Lee Roosevelt. With a cohesive narrative and a logical layout, readers follow Alice Roosevelt as she grows up and takes her place as one of America’s most influential women. Beginning with an exasperated Theodore Roosevelt, readers discover that despite the fact that he had herded thousands of cattle across the Dakota badlands, led the Rough Riders in the charge up Kettle Hill, killed a grizzly bear, captured outlaws, governed New York and been the Vice President, Roosevelt could not control his own daughter (Kerley, 2008).

            What to do About Alice? follows the natural progression of Alice Roosevelt’s life – from her birth and her mother’s tragic death two days later, to her marriage and rise as a political advisor in her own right. The story of Alice’s life is even continued on end pages of the book where a more detailed account of Alice Roosevelt’s life is provided. Through the clear sequence of events of Alice Roosevelt’s life readers are able to see how Alice Roosevelt became the world-renowned woman she is known as today. It should be noted that there are very few dates provided within the pages of What to do About Alice? – in fact the only dates provided are the year Alice was born, the year Theodore Roosevelt was elected president and the year Theodore Roosevelt was elected to his second presidential term. The vast majority of the What to do About Alice? bibliographic information is provided to illustrated the type of woman Alice was rather than providing information to the social and political climate of the age in which Alice lived. What to do About Alice? provides no table of contents, no chapters, no index and no subheadings – it is simply the story of how Alice became infamous by being wholy and completely herself.

            Kerley is passion towards Alice Roosevelt’s story and her place in American history clearly resonates through Kerley’s use of language and tone. Kerley’s excitement for her subject permeates the pages of What to do About Alice? and is demonstrated through the care she took to cite her work and the additional information that she provides at the end of the book – it’s as if she couldn’t let Alice’s story go and wanted to ensure that readers received as much information as possible. Through the use of multiple biographies, Theodore Roosevelt’s published letters and Alice Roosevelt’s own words from her autobiography, Kerley bolsters her story with well-documented fact. Kerley also strives to paint an accurate portrait of Alice Roosevelt and illustrate that her free spirited celebrity image did not extend to all aspects of her life. Kerley shows that even though Alice bucked tradition, Kerley paints (with Fotheringham’s help) a demure Alice as she marries Nicholas Longsworth. Kerley also acknowledges that despite being a pioneer of feminist attitude, Alice still took on the mantle of wife and put her influence to work supporting her husband and his career. Kerley uses language and verbiage that is appropriate for youth reading levels but is still entertaining to adults. Kerley’s own reputation as an author lends credibility to What to do About Alice? as her previous biographies The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins and Walt Whitman: Words for America were both ALA Notable Books. Kerley’s open presentation of Alice Roosevelt’s life allows readers to see that even through Alice Roosevelt bucked the societal trends of the day, her ability to follow her heart and dreams allowed her to make history in a way that none of her more proper step brothers and sisters were able to. Through Alice Roosevelt’s thirst for life, or as she put it, her desire to “eat up the world”, she was able to experience life in a way that few women of the time were able to and she was able to make a place for herself in a world that very few women were able to occupy – a place where her opinion was valued and her advice was sought.

Awards

A 2009 American Library Association Notable Books for Children. 
A Sibert Honor Book

Illustrations

The large format layout of What to do About Alice? is charming and readable with delightful illustrations by Edwin Fotheringham that capture the free-spirited charisma of Alice. The colorful illustrations juxtapose the blithe, care-free spirit of Alice beautifully with the anxious and stressed expressions of her father and the stern expressions of the “proper” ladies of the day. Through the movement created through Fotheringham’s illustrations readers come to realize just what a force of nature Alice Roosevelt was and how her exuberance for life took her across the globe. Through the clear used of text and the expressive illustrations readers come to understand that while following your heart and being yourself might not have won Alice Roosevelt any points with the conservative women’s groups, it did get her; 23 cases of “loot” from her tour as an American Goodwill Ambassador, a husband and hundreds upon hundreds of wedding presents from total strangers and a place in American history (Kerley, 2008)!

Book Reviews

Booklist (01/01/2008):
*Starred Review* Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was. The daughter of Theodore Roosevelt (and a mother who died soon after childbirth), Alice had a joie de vivre that she called eating up the world. This energy exhibited itself in her joining an all-boys club, tramping around Washington, D.C., and, later, taking off on around-the-world adventures. Kerleys text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line: Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem. Children will be impressed with the way Alice took control of her life: eschewing formal schooling, she convinced T. R. to let her loose in his library. The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art, which includes use of digital media. In almost every picture, Alice is running, motoring, racing. One clever spread shows what it was like to be a media princess: newspaper pages fly across the spread, obscuring Alice. There are a few flaws. Kids, who have a shaky sense of history, would have benefited from a time line, and quotes are barely sourced. These are small points, though, in an otherwise invigorating look at larger-than-life Alice. An afterword is appended.

Horn Book Magazine (03/01/2008):
This sassy biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth validates President Theodore Roosevelt's famous quip about his oldest child: "I can be president of the United States, or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both." Spunky and headstrong, Alice "was hungry to go places, meet people, do things. Father called it 'running riot.' Alice called it 'eating up the world.'" Readers can call her actions what they will as they follow Alice sneaking out at night; riding trays down the White House stairs; or diving, fully clothed, into a ship's pool. With a palette that emphasizes Alice Blue, her signature color, the illustrations often match Alice's spirit with zigzag streaks, circular pieces of spot art, and slanting figures. Both text and illustrations can depict a demure Alice (on her wedding day, for example), but that decorum is short-lived as she dances the turkey trot or plays poker with "the boys." An author's note hints at Alice's probable unhappiness as a child (her mother died two days after Alice's birth, and Theodore never spoke her name again); expands on ways that Alice served the president; and details her political influence, and outrageousness, in later life. What to do about Alice? Enjoy!

School Library Journal (03/01/2008):
Gr 24Kerley brings another historical figure to life. Alice Lee Roosevelt was President Theodore Roosevelt's only child by his first wife, who died two days after her birth. From the start, Alice's behavior was unconventional, and that pattern was to continue throughout her colorful life. Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers. Fotheringham's digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text. The energy in his pictures is palpable as when Alice is turned loose in her father's library and five Alices dart about followed by lines that trace her frenetic path as she reads eclectically and voraciously. The illustrations not only enhance but are frequently the source of humor: "Alice tried to be helpful. She watched her younger brothers and sister so her stepmother could get some rest." The picture depicts Alice and her siblings careening down the White House stairs on sleds. Alice blue, the color named after her eyes, swirls throughout in a subtle tribute. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into both a bygone era and one of its more interesting denizens as well as a surefire antidote for any child who thinks that historical figures are boring.



Publishers Weekly (03/31/2008):
Its hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt. Kerley ("The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins") knows just how to introduce her to contemporary readers: Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem. It wasn’t herding thousands of cattle across the Dakota badlands. He’d done that. It wasn’t leading the Rough Riders.... He’d bagged a grizzly bear, captured outlaws, governed the state of New York, and served as vice president of the United States, and "still" he had a problem. Her name was Alice. Debut illustrator Fotheringham creates the perfect mood from the start: his stylish digital art sets a fast pace, making use of speed lines (rendered in dots, these earn their names) and multiple vignettes to evoke characters in perpetual motion. His compositions wittily incorporate headlines, iconic images and plenty of Alice blue, too. Kids will embrace a heroine who teaches her younger stepsiblings to sled down the White House stairs (Alice tried to be helpful, Kerley writes soberly as Fotheringham shows her in action), entertains dignitaries with her pet snake and captivates a nation with pranks and high jinks.

Connections

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell is a picture book styled biography that tells the story of Jane Goodall and how she dreamed of someday working with animals. Through hard work and perseverance, Jane Goodall was able to buck tradition, travel to Africa, make some of the most influential discoveries on primate behavior and become one of the worlds most respected humanitarians and animal advocates. Both Jane and Alice were able to face the societal pressures of their time and persevere to take their place in the world that they created for themselves.

References

Booklist 01/01/2008 pg. 79 (EAN 9780439922319, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2008 pg. 227 (EAN 9780439922319, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do About Alice?. Ill Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439922319

Kirkus Review - Children 02/01/2008 pg. 148 (EAN 9780439922319, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

McDonnell, Patrick. 2011. Me…Jane. New York, NY: Little Brown for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316045469

Publishers Weekly 03/31/2008 pg. 61 (EAN 9780439922319, Hardcover) - *Starred Review