Nonfiction and Biography-Review

Move

By: Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Illustrated By: Steve Jenkins

A. Bibliographic Data

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Jenkins. 2006. Move. Ill. by Steve Jenkins. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

ISBN: 0-618-64637-X

B: Plot Summary

Move is an informational picture book that teaches children about the different ways animals move to get around. Words are bolded throughout the book that the reader should focus on and think about. Words such as: waddle, slide, float, dance, run, fly, climb, slither, leap, swim, dive, walk, and swing are highlighted throughout the book. For each moving action an animal is given who uses this type of movement for getting around. An animal index is in the back of the book with definitions for the different types of animals that are mentioned in the book.

C. Critical Analysis

Move appears just to be a simple picture book, but when taking a closer look the reader can learn and ponder on how and why animals move. The organization of the book is very simple with a big bold word on each page with a sentence to go along with it. The organization remains the same throughout the whole book allowing the young reader to see the repetition of the moving words.

The overall design of the book is inviting to the young reader. Steve Jenkins creates his design or illustrations from collages of construction paper. Some of the illustrations appear to be made from torn construction paper while others appear to be made from construction paper that has been cut. His pictures are simple but informative teaching the reader what animal goes along with what special type of movement.

D. School Library Journal Review-"In this eye-popping book illustrated with cut- and torn-paper collages, animals leap, swim, slide, swing, and waddle. Each spread contains one action word and two animals for whom that behavior is typical. One of the animals turns up again on the next page alongside a different creature, both of them representing another kind of motion. For example, on one side a crocodile slithers into the water opposite a snake slithering through leaves; with the turn, the snake climbs a tree and a praying mantis climbs a blade of grass. The information will pique readers' interest. Jenkins uses brief phrases as captions and provides a well-written, concise appendix. A sharp-headed, blue-eyed bird hovers over the caption, A roadrunner flies, but not too far…. On the next page, the bird, clasping a lizard in its beak, sprints away to the words, …it would rather run to catch its prey. The end matter explains where the roadrunner lives, what it eats, how large it is, and why it is more suited to running than flying. This book is gorgeous and educational."-School Library Journal

E. Connections

*Watch a video with student online about how Steve Jenkins created Move.

*Read more informational books by Steve Jenkins or his wife Robin Page

*Do a lesson on verbs and show all the different verbs in the book that show action or movement.