Synopses & Reviews
What can happen in just a second,
a minute, or an hour? How can we measure time?
The flap of a vultureand#8217;s wing.
A crocodileand#8217;s heartbeat.
The weight of a baby blue whale.
The life of a mayfly.
These increments of time may sound a bit strange, but they are all fascinating ways in which we can think about time.
But what exactly is time?
In Just a Second, the award-winning author-illustrator Steve Jenkins brings forth unique ways to think about time beyond the hands we see every day on a ticking clock. and#160; and#160;This non-fiction picture book explores time and how we think about it in a different way - as a series of events in the natural world (some of them directly observable, others not) that take place in a given unit of time. Steve Jenkins' extraordinary illustrations will accompany this engaging look at time.
Review
"The phraseology is immediate and inviting...filled with lively, digestible tidbits...This will easily lure browsers in a range of ages..."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"Jenkins once again astounds...the combination of easy-to-understand language and gorgeous illustrations makes this a prime choice for any young animal enthusiast's collection." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Another amazing work by a master illustrator." School Library Journal, starred review
"It's difficult to imagine a science topic better suited to picture-book form than this one, which offers a pageant of the most stunning, vividly hued creatures on the planet. ...From the pink fairy armadillo to the purple deep-sea dragonfish, readers will be fascinated by the panoply of critters that often seem the stuff of fairy lore, and educators will applaud the clever concept of presenting survival adaptations as a biological fashion show." --Booklist, ALA
"Color becomes the organizing factor in this new exploration of the quirks of the animal world. Jenkinsand#8217;s design, always striking, reaches the heights of inspiration with this offering... guaranteed to be a browserand#8217;s delight." --Kirkus Reviews
"The bookand#8217;s real highlight, though, is Jenkinsand#8217;s cut-paper collage: his animals are dazzling -- vibrantly colored and detailed. For each of the featured animals, further information -- size, habitat, and diet, among other facts -- is provided in the end matter. There Jenkins also answers questions like and#8220;How is animal color created?and#8221; Thatand#8217;s a godsend, because itand#8217;s definitely the sort of thing curious young readers will ask" -- Horn Book
"The illustrations are done in Jenkins' signature medium...richly colored and brilliantly designed. This is a grow-with-me book." --Tampa Tribune
"Jenkins blends his trademark collage illustrations with snappy facts." --The Washington Post
"A terrific book for elementary schoolers." --Providence Journal
Review
"This subtly philosophical examination of time, scale, and the mechanics of life is all but certain to leave readers reconsidering the world and their place in it."and#8212; Publishers Weekly, starred review "This is a fascinatingly different way to approach natural history as well as time..."and#8212; Bulletin "Jenkins renders this package both eye-catching and mind boggling. Teachers will find good jumping-off points here for math, science, and history discussions."and#8212; School Library Journal, starred review
Synopsis
Red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, pinkand#8212;animals can be startlingly colorful. Why are they found in so many shades, tints, and hues? From the scarlet ibis to the blue-tongued skink, award-winning author/illustrator Steve Jenkins depicts a whole world of colorful animals in his signature style. Living Color explores a range of animals from old favorites like the pink flamingo to rare and fascinating creatures such as the long-wattled umbrella bird and the ringed caecilian. How do the brilliant feathers, scales,shells, and skin of these animals help them survive? Find out in this strikingly beautiful book how animals use color to warn predators, signal friends, attract a mate, or hide from their enemies.
Synopsis
and#160;This non-fiction picture book explores time and how we think about it in a different way - as a series of events in the natural world (some of them directly observable, others not) that take place in a given unit of time. Steve Jenkins' extraordinary illustrations will accompany this engaging look at time. and#160;
Just a Secondis visualized as a linear series of illustrations and captions, starting with a second, a minute, an hour, a month, and a year. and#160; What happens in a second?
A gnat beats its wings 1000 times.
A hummingbird beats its wings 75 times.
A shrew's heart beats 13 times.
A bat squeaks and listens for an echo 10 times.
A dropped stone falls 16 feet.
Earth travels 18 miles in its trip around the sun.
A cheetah can run 100 feet. and#160;
About the Author
Steve Jenkins has written and illustrated many nonfiction 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, eye-popping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious, and informative. He lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and frequent collaborator, Robin Page, and their children.