Module 4/Genre 4 - Non-Fiction

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. 2005. I see a kookaburra! discovering animal habitats around the world. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 9780618507641

Plot Summary

I See a Kookaburra! is a wonderfully crafted book about different habitats and the creatures that live there. The book covers the American Southwest desert, England’s southern coast tidal pools, South American jungles, the savanna of central Africa, Australia’s eastern forest, and America’s ponds in the Midwest. Each habitat is shown with its animals hidden and then the following pages show them with a little blurb about each. At the end of the book is a glossary for each habitat with a more detailed description of each animal. There’s also a world map with each habitat area labeled and then a brief additional reading section.

Critical Analysis

This bright picture book is a wonderful non-fiction selection for young children, whether they can read or not. Learning will take place without the youngster realizing it. The engaging collages will captivate children to search for animals and then encourage them to read on to find out more about each creature.

The paper collages are well thought out and executed. The variety of textures used really makes the animals seem three dimensional. The natterjack toad alone is made up of at least eight different layers of paper that makes the toad look like part amphibian, part rock. The art in this book not only pleases whoever browses this book, but also inspires any artist, quasi-artist, or artist-wanna-be to try paper collages.

The information in this book is well researched and detailed in the back of the book. The book is also laid out in a way consistent way that helps students to realize that after seeing the habitat page and searching for animals within, the next page will expose each hidden animal and tell a little about each. I See a Kookaburra will motivate children to find out more about habitats and the animals found in each one.

Review Excerpts

BookList: “Jenkins and Page team up again, this time to combine vibrant paper-collage art with an I Spy game to introduce wildlife in six habitats around the world.”

Kirkus Reviews: “…and in general, this offering provides what readers have come to expect from Jenkins: eye-popping collages and accessible information about the natural world.”

School Library Journal: “Filled with vibrant colors and palpable textures, the illustrations are breathtaking and give a real sense of the vitality, diversity, and beauty of nature. A first-rate foray into ecology that will encourage readers to explore the world around them.”

Connections

Have an art class pick animals to make up using paper collages. Extend the activity by having them make the habitats for the animals as well. Have students look at http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/makingbooks/ to see how Mr. Jenkins planned the art for his books.

Have students research the local habitat and the creatures that live close by. Have presentations on what they find. Students could even “extend” I See a Kookaburra by adding their own habitat and animals to continue the book.

Have students read Animal Poems (ISBN 9780374380571) and have them write a poem about one of the animals listed in I See a Kookaburra.

Have students check out some of the other Steve Jenkins books:
Move! ISBN 9780618646371
Prehistoric Actual Size ISBN 9780618535781
Next Stop, Neptune: Experiencing Our Solar System ISBN 9780618416035
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? ISBN 9780618256280
Biggest, Strongest, Fastest ISBN 9780395697016