SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: THE BEAK BOOK
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.robinpagebooks.com
CITY: Boulder
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 336
Nominee for 2004 Caldecott Medal; Married to author Steve Jenkins
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1943, in Reidsville, NC; married Steve Jenkins (an author/illustrator); children: Page, Alec, Jamie.
EDUCATION:Graduated from North Carolina State University School of Design and from Cooper Union, 1980.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Graphic designer, illustrator, and author. Art director at McCall’s magazine and Simon & Schuster, both New York, NY; Jenkins & Page (design firm), New York, NY, then Boulder, CO, cofounder and book designer, 1982—.
AVOCATIONS:Reading, watching movies, gardening, yoga, hiking, skiing, traveling.
AWARDS:(With husband Steve Jenkins): Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended honor, Notable Book in the Language Arts designation, National Council of Teachers of English, and Caldecott Honor Book designation, all 2004, all for What Do You Do with a Tail like This?; New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection, New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year selection, and Parenting magazine Book of the Year selection, all 2006, all for Move!; Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 selection, National Science Teachers Association/Children’s Book Council (NSTA/CBC), 2009, for How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?; AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books and Best Children’s Books of the Year selection, Bank Street College of Education, both 2009, both for Sisters and Brothers; Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, California Reading Association, and Best of the Best selection, Chicago Public Library, both 2011, both for Time to Sleep; Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, 2011, and Best of the Best selection, Chicago Public Library, 2012, both for Time to Eat; Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award, 2011, and Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 selection, and Best of the Best selection, Chicago Public Library, both 2012, all for Time for a Bath; Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 selection, 2013, for My First Day; Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 selection, 2014, for Animals Upside Down; Eureka! Silver Award, 2015, AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books and Best Children’s Books of the Year selection, Bank Street College of Education, both 2016, all for A Chicken Followed Me Home!; Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 selection, 2021, for What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo?
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
In addition to working alongside her husband, Steve Jenkins, as cofounder of the design firm Jenkins & Page, Robin Page also has collaborated on several award-winning books for young children, including Move! and What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo? Notable for their unique illustration style, which incorporates collages of highly textured and tinted handmade papers against a white background, books by the husband-and-wife team have earned several awards, among them a Caldecott Medal honor book designation for What Do You Do with a Tail like This?
Page was raised on a farm in North Carolina with four siblings, so she was always especially close to nature, and activities like planting corn, chasing chickens, herding cows, and driving tractors were parts of daily life. Nonetheless, by high school, art was her favorite subject. Page met Jenkins while both were students at North Carolina State University, and they married and relocated to New York City to establish separate careers within the graphic design field. Page worked as an art director for both magazine and book publishers until 1982, when Jenkins & Page was established. Although the couple moved their studio to their new home in Boulder, Colorado, during the 1990s, Jenkins & Page continues to maintain its office in New York as well.
Page joined her husband in creating picture books several years into Jenkins’s career, and their first collaboration was Animals in Flight. Jenkins, who creates the concept for each book, combines his passion for science with his skills as an artist and focuses on animals and their habitats. Animals in Flight explores different styles of wings—those employed by creatures ranging from dragonflies to bats to birds—and the basic mechanics of animal flight. The book is highly graphic in its approach: A large picture of each animal is accompanied by large-format text geared for younger children, while smaller pictures link to a more technical text in a smaller font. Ellen Heath praised Animals in Flight in School Library Journal, calling its illustrations “perfect for this exploration of wings.”
Page and Jenkins’s companion picture books What Do You Do with a Tail like This? and How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? begin with interesting, close-up features of an animal’s body part and then reveal an illustration of the entire animal alongside a text that provides detailed animal facts. Tim Arnold, in his review for Booklist, called What Do You Do with a Tail like This? an “exceptional paper-cut science book” from the creative team, while School Library Journal critic Wanda Meyers-Hines heralded it as “yet another eye-opening” collaboration.
In How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?, Jenkins and Page map the food chain through Page’s in-depth text and Jenkins’s art. From predator to prey, the book helps teach children to respect the adaptive survival behaviors of a wide range of creatures, from tiny flies to sleek-finned salmon to shaggy-coated grizzly bears. Calling How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? “an enthralling read-aloud” that is perfect for small-group story hours, Booklist contributor Hazel Rochman also praised the “clear, gorgeous [double-spread] … images in cut-and torn-paper collage.” The “detailed cut-paper art” in How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? is a highlight, maintained Jennifer Brabander in Horn Book; “the amount of text is just right; and the page design keeps it all easy to read and easy on the eyes.”
In their exploration of diverse ecosystems in I See a Kookaburra! Discovering Animal Habitats around the World, Jenkins and Page transport readers from desert to jungle, from savannah to forest, and from tide pool to pond. A Publishers Weekly critic was impressed by the “straightforward language … and vivid, economical descriptions” that link the book’s colorful collages, while in School Library Journal, Joy Fleishhacker wrote that here Page and Jenkins combine “clearly presented information with seek-and-find fun” via the book’s “breathtaking” double-spread cut-paper art. “The bright and playful design will attract an enthusiastic audience,” predicted Shelle Rosenfeld in her Booklist review of I See a Kookaburra!
Move! explores the ways different creatures achieve motion. From swimming and flying to hopping, sliding, and waddling, Move! introduces a variety of creatures and provides basic information that explains the reason each form of transportation developed. Remarking on the “eye-popping” quality of the book’s art, Susan Weitz noted in School Library Journal that Move! “is gorgeous and educational,” while Booklist contributor GraceAnne A. DeCandido predicted that Jenkins and Page’s “lively collaboration” will inspire young readers to imitate the actions explored.
Jenkins’s other collaborations with Page include Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World, in which children learn that some animals have sibling squabbles that look and sound much like those of human children, while My First Day: What Animals Do on Day One highlights the activities of over twenty newborn creatures as they follow nature’s programming to survive. A Kirkus Reviews writer recommended My First Day as an “inviting way to connect young human readers and listeners to creatures who share their world.”
An interactive book, Animals Upside Down: A Pull, Pop, Lift and Learn Book! incorporates a variety of moving parts within its artfully designed pages: pull-tabs and pop-ups as well as wheels to spin. Introducing over twenty creatures that have adapted unusual physical capabilities in order to survive, the work showcases a range of nimble species that view the world topsy-turvy, all within in the couple’s characteristic paper-collage art. Animals Upside Down prompted a Publishers Weekly critic to exclaim: “Leave it to Jenkins and Page to find another novel take on the animal kingdom,” while in School Library Journal Alyson Low praised the work as an effective mix of “fascinating text and … vivid illustrations.”
Page and Jenkins returned to the wonders of animal-kind with How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom. With playful narration, the book uses examples provided by pythons, monkeys, crocodiles, armadillos, and other animals to teach human readers how to build, hunt, defend oneself, swallow medium-sized animals whole, and perform other important tasks. A Publishers Weekly reviewer praised the “highly enjoyable mix of science and humor,” and Carolyn Phelan, in Booklist, observed that “there’s enough detail in the simply written, amusing text to make the processes interesting and informative.” In School Library Journal, Lynn Vanca called How to Swallow a Pig “another fascinating, fun, and attractive look at the natural world” by the coauthors.
Flying Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads, Jet-Propelled Jellyfish, and More Surprising Ways That Animals Move offers further intriguing looks at how animals live, in particular, how they move around, whether on land, in water, or through the air. Readers will learn that octopuses can walk on the sea floor, elephants can swim, and other animals roll, whirl, slither, tumble, somersault, climb, or float to get around. As usual, Jenkins and Page offer simple text to accompany the illustrations along with more detailed information in the back matter. In Booklist, Anita Lock declared of Flying Frogs and Walking Fish, “With a collection of more than 40 species, this spectacular arrangement of creatures … is highly educational and a treat to behold.”
Readers are invited to participate in the fun with Page and Jenkins’s Who Am I? An Animal Guessing Game. Presented with clues in the form of facts about a series of seven different animals, as well as close-up illustrations of parts of their bodies, young readers have the chance to figure out who each animal is before it is finally revealed. Erin Anderson, in Booklist, observed, “Strong visual appeal coupled with the format … offers a delightfully fresh resource on the animal world.” In School Library Journal, Katherine Hickey praised the “brilliant interactive format” of Who Am I?
The pair’s next animal book, Look at Me! How to Attract Attention in the Animal World, focuses on how animals use their appearances to get the attention of fellow species members. Often this is for the purpose of appealing to the opposite sex, but at other times animals’ body language can signal a warning or send a territorial message. Animals from seals, frigate birds, and toads to slugs, fringehead fish, and mandrills all have interesting features to show readers. A Kirkus Reviews writer noted, “Animals with fake eye spots, glowing lures, putrid flesh, and stinky glands will fascinate kids who love weird and wonderful science.” In School Library Journal, Gloria Koster hailed Look at Me! as “another beautiful, well-researched work from the reliable pair.”
Jenkins and Page also look at animals’ appearances in Creature Features: 25 Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do. In a lighthearted interview format, questions are posed, and various animals, including a vulture, tapir, lizard, mole rat, horned frog, and twenty others, answer by explaining just why they look unique. In School Library Journal, Melissa Smith declared, “Loaded with nuggets of information and layered in humor, this is a winning picture book that is sure to inform as well as entertain.” In Booklist, Lolly Gepson called Creature Features “a splendid introduction and a memorable read-aloud”—“just another stellar partnership for Jenkins and Page.”
[new prose]
In The Frog Book, Page and Jenkins examine the life cycles, physical characteristics, diet, and habitats of some intriguing amphibious creatures. As in their previous works, the duo “prove their ability to choose interesting examples, write short, child-friendly explanations, and portray salient features of animals with deftly cut and torn paper image,” a writer in Kirkus Reviews noted. Tiny Monsters: The Strange Creatures That Live on Us, in Us, and around Us presents a host of surprising facts about the thistle mantis, dragon springtail, armored snout mite, and other peculiar-looking organisms. A Publishers Weekly critic applauded the “sophisticated illustrated guide,” and Booklist reviewer Kay Weisman predicted that the book “will be welcomed in primary science units, and browsers will appreciate its ‘yuck’ factor.”
What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo? describes the many and varied activities of the people who care for animals for a living, from applying sunscreen to an aardvark’s ears to raking the fur of a tapir to remove ticks. “Clever, engaging, and always informative, this will be welcomed by animal-lovers and fans of this duo,” Booklist reviewer Kay Weisman explained. “Textured collage illustrations bring the animals to life and create a sense of authenticity,” observed Kristen Todd-Wurm in School Library Journal.
[end new prose]
Page began producing self-illustrated works of her own with A Chicken Followed Me Home! Questions and Answers about a Familiar Fowl. Imagining that the young reader has suddenly become responsible for a chicken, the book helps the reader identify, feed, protect, and care for the friendly fowl. It also answers questions from the curious with regard to laying eggs and having baby chicks. Following the cutout-collage style employed by Jenkins for years, A Chicken Followed Me Home! is graced by “bright, bold, colorful illustrations” by Page, as affirmed by J.B. Petty in Booklist. A Publishers Weekly reviewer called it a “subtly funny guide,” while a Kirkus Reviews writer called it “a delightful and informative book for families wanting to raise chickens or learn where eggs come from.”
[new prose]
Nature’s methods of seed dispersal is the focus of Seeds Move!, another title written and illustrated by Page. “The simple prose relies on action verbs for punch,” a writer noted in Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist contributor J.B. Petty remarked the Page’s “big, bright digital illustrations resemble textured collages and will easily hold the attention of their young audience.” In The Beak Book, Page describes the bills of kiwis, ruddy ducks, and cormorants, among other birds. “The succinct text accompanying each animal is just enough to hold young readers’ interest,” Henrietta Verma stated in Booklist. “Brightly colored collage close-ups of each bird’s head and beak adorn the spare, white pages,” a Kirkus Reviews critic observed.
[end new prose]
Page has also illustrated works by other authors. Ellen Jackson’s Octopuses One to Ten uses rhymed couplets, factual prose, and a counting theme to teach young readers about the wondrous octopus. In School Library Journal, Eva Elisabeth VonAncken noted that Page’s “muted watercolors emphasize the incredible movement and color of octopuses,” while in Booklist Carolyn Phelan noted, “With the look of cut-paper collage, the digital pictures are varied, colorful, and often striking.”
Who Eats Orange?, by Dianne White, uses questions and answers to teach young readers about the colors of the foods that various animals, ranging from bunnies and chickens to goats and pigs to gorillas and humans, like to eat. Kate Olson, in School Library Journal, called the illustrations in Who Eats Orange? “vividly colored,” while in Booklist, Shelle Rosenfeld affirmed that the “bold, brightly colored collage-like digital illustrations” are “eye-catching.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, December 15, 2001, Gillian Engberg, review of Animals in Flight, p. 735; February 15, 2003, Tim Arnold, review of What Do You Do with a Tail like This?, p. 1068; August, 2005, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of I See a Kookaburra! Discovering Animal Habitats around the World, p. 2032; March 15, 2006, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of Move!, p. 50; April 1, 2008, Hazel Rochman, review of Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World, p. 49; September 1, 2008, Hazel Rochman, review of How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?, p. 97; March 15, 2010, Gillian Engberg, review of How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships, p. 42; November 1, 2012, Connie Fletcher, review of My First Day: What Animals Do on Day One, p. 51; June 1, 2014, Lolly Gepson, review of Creature Features: 25 Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do, p. 70; May 15, 2015, J.B. Petty, review of A Chicken Followed Me Home! Questions and Answers about a Familiar Fowl, p. 48; September 15, 2015, Carolyn Phelan, review of How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom, p. 54; March 15, 2016, Anita Lock, review of Flying Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads, Jet-Propelled Jellyfish, and More Surprising Ways That Animals Move, p. 53; July 1, 2016, Carolyn Phelan, review of Octopuses One to Ten, p. 51; September 15, 2017, Erin Anderson, review of Who Am I? An Animal Guessing Game, p. 47; March 1, 2018, Kay Weisman, review of Look at Me! How to Attract Attention in the Animal World, p. 44; May 15, 2018, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Who Eats Orange?, p. 41; May 15, 2019, J.B. Petty, review of Seeds Move!, p. 52; March 1, 2020, Kay Weisman, review of What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo?, p. 40; December 15, 2018, Kathleen McBroom, review of The Frog Book, p. 92; November 1, 2020, Kay Weisman, review of Tiny Monsters: The Strange Creatures That Live on Us, in Us, and around Us, p. 51; December 1, 2020, Henrietta Verma, review of The Beak Book, p. 46.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May, 2006, Deborah Stevenson, review of Move!, p. 405; January, 2013, Deborah Stevenson, review of My First Day, p. 249.
Children’s Bookwatch, April, 2015, review of Egg: Nature’s Perfect Package.
Horn Book, May-June, 2005, Danielle J. Ford, review of I See a Kookaburra!, p. 350; May-June, 2006, Betty Carter, review of Move!, p. 344; May-June, 2008, Danielle J. Ford, review of Sisters and Brothers, p. 338; January-February, 2009, Jennifer M. Brabander, review of How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?, p. 116; January-February, 2013, Danielle J. Ford, review of My First Day, p. 105; May-June, 2015, Roger Sutton, review of A Chicken Followed Me Home, p. 128; May-June, 2016, Danielle J. Ford, review of Flying Frogs and Walking Fish, p. 119; September-October, 2017, Danielle J. Ford, review of Who Am I?, p. 113; March-April, 2019, Danielle J. Ford, review of The Frog Book, p. 102.
Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2001, review of Animals in Flight, p. 1485; January 15, 2003, review of What Do You Do with a Tail like This?, p. 142; May 1, 2005, review of I See a Kookaburra!, p. 540; April 1, 2006, review of Move!, p. 349; September 1, 2008, review of How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?; December 15, 2012, review of My First Day; February 1, 2015, review of A Chicken Followed Me Home; March 1, 2016, review of Flying Frogs and Walking Fish; June 15, 2016, review of Octopuses One to Ten; April 15, 2018, review of Look at Me!; October 1, 2018, review of The Frog Book; December 1, 2019, review of Seeds Move!; February 1, 2020, review of What Do You Do if You Work at the Zoo?; September 1, 2020, review of Tiny Monsters; October 15, 2020, review of The Beak Book.
New York Times Book Review, August 13, 2006, Julie Just, review of Move!, A&E p. 1.
Publishers Weekly, April 25, 2005, review of I See a Kookaburra!, p. 56; May 3, 2010, review of How to Clean a Hippopotamus, p. 48; November 5, 2012, review of My First Day, p. 67; July 1, 2013, review of Animals Upside Down: A Pull, Pop, Lift and Learn Book!, p. 89; December 2, 2015, reviews of A Chicken Followed Me Home, p. 44, and How to Swallow a Pig, p. 47; December 2, 2016, review of Flying Frogs and Walking Fish, p. 48; February 11, 2019, review of Seeds Move!, p. 69; October 26, 2020, review of The Beak Book, p. 78, and Tiny Monsters, p. 79.
School Library Journal, November, 2001, Ellen Heath, review of Animals in Flight, p. 146; March, 2003, Wanda Meyers-Hines, review of What Do You Do with a Tail like This?, p. 220; May, 2005, Joy Fleishhacker, review of I See a Kookaburra!, p. 108; June, 2006, Susan Weitz, review of Move!, p. 136; April, 2010, Kara Schaff Dean, review of How to Clean a Hippopotamus, p. 146; May, 2011, Heather Acerro, review of Time to Eat, p. 98; January, 2013, Grace Oliff, review of My First Day, p. 92; October, 2013, Alyson Low, review of Animals Upside Down, p. 134; June, 2014, Melissa Smith, review of Creature Features, p. 138; May, 2015, Lynn Vanca, review of How to Swallow a Pig, p. 133; February, 2016, Linda L. Walkins, review of Flying Frogs and Walking Fish, p. 113; June, 2016, Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, review of Octopuses One to Ten, p. 124; November, 2017, Katherine Hickey, review of Who Am I?, p. 101; April, 2018, Gloria Koster, review of Look at Me!, p. 144; May, 2018, Kate Olson, review of Who Eats Orange?, p. 120; March, 2020, Kristen Todd-Wurm, review of What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo?, p. 126; December, 2020, Louie Lauer, review of The Beak Book, p. 111.
ONLINE
Robin Page website, http://www.robinpagebooks.com (March 1, 2021).
How many books have you made?
I’ve made 20 books — 16 of them were co-written with my husband Steve Jenkins.
How long does it take to make a book?
From the time I begin work on a book until I have a finished copy in hand, it might be two years. But I’m not working on just one book for all that time. Typically, I'm working on two or three books at different stages.
How old were you when you wrote your first book?
Twenty-eight
Where do your ideas for books come from?
I’ve always loved children’s books, and I collected many — both old and new — before I had children of my own. My first book was a result of a handmade bookmaking class I took in New York City. Many of the books I worked on with Steve were inspired by our kids and the activities we did with them. Others had their start in a conversation with Steve about some new cool fact one of us came across. Frequently, in doing research for one book, we come across interesting information that inspires a future title.
What’s your favorite animal?
I love our golden retriever, but cats are amazing animals to watch.
What’s the most fun part of making a book?
Coming up with an idea and starting to research it. Another part of the bookmaking process I really enjoy is the design — working out how the pages will look when the type and illustrations come together.
I was born in Reidsville, N.C., where I grew up on a farm with my four siblings. At an early age, we all learned how to plant corn, chase chickens, herd cows, and drive tractors. Art was my favorite subject in high school, and I went on to attend the School of Design at North Carolina State University and The Cooper Union in New York City, graduating from both in 1980.
I worked in the art departments of Simon and Schuster and McCall’s Magazine before founding a graphic design firm in NYC with my husband, Steve Jenkins. In 1994, Steve and I moved our design office to Boulder, CO, where we continue to write and illustrate children’s books and work on graphic design projects for corporate and institutional clients.
I’ve long had a special interest in handmade books. (Click here to see a few of my early book projects). In 1986, our daughter Page was born. Her brother Alec arrived two years later, and I spent many happy hours reading to them. Jamie, our youngest son, was born in 1998. The questions our children have asked over the years have been the inspiration for many of our books.
When I’m not working I like to read, watch movies, garden, practice yoga, hike, ski and travel.
stevejenkinsbooks.com
jenkinspage.com
Jenkins & Page Associates is a multidisciplinary design office in Boulder, Colorado and New York City. Steve Jenkins and Robin Page founded the firm in NYC in 1982. Since then, Jenkins & Page has designed identity programs, advertising campaigns, publications, and interactive media for a diverse group of corporate, institutional, and non-profit clients.
In 1994, Steve and Robin opened an office in Boulder. Jeff Jenkins, who heads the New York office, joined the firm as a partner the same year.
Robin Page has written and illustrated several picture books, including the 2003 Caldecott Honor recipient What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?, which she created with her husband Steve Jenkins, and A Chicken Followed Me Home! and Seeds Move!, which she both wrote and illustrated. Robin and Steve live in Boulder, Colorado.
Page, Robin THE BEAK BOOK Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (Children's None) $17.99 1, 5 ISBN: 978-1-5344-6041-6
If you thought beaks were just for pecking, think again.
This picture book examines in piercing detail the astonishing adaptability of birds’ beaks. Twenty-one different birds from different parts of the world are illustrated to show the unique functions of each species’ beaks. The kiwi’s nostrils are located at the end of its beak to allow it to smell its food before ingesting it. The shoebill stork has a large, heavy beak ideal for crushing fish “or the occasional lizard or baby crocodile.” The common tailorbird can actually sew leaves together using spiderweb silk to make a nest, and the macaw uses its hooked beak to climb trees. The unbelievably cute Atlantic puffin uses its hinged beak (aided by spines inside its mouth) to hold a big mouthful of fish, and of course, most birds use their beaks to make their first entrance to the world out of the egg. Brightly colored collage close-ups of each bird’s head and beak adorn the spare, white pages, with brief text describing the function of each bird’s beak and a small vignette of the whole bird, showing how the bird uses its beak. A double-page diagram showing where the birds live and what they eat is included, but the maps are a bit small and unlabeled, requiring readers who are unfamiliar with world geography to seek out other sources. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 50.1% of actual size.)
An unusual insight into one aspect of the amazing adaptability of birds. (bibliography, further reading) (Informational picture book. 7-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Page, Robin: THE BEAK BOOK." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2020. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A638165949/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=4864324e. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
PAGE, Robin. The Beak Book. illus. by Robin Page. 40p. S. & S./Beach Lane. Jan. 2021. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781534460416.
K-Gr 2--Young readers who are curious about birds from around the world will enjoy Page's latest offering, which provides a colorful and informative look at one unique feature of a bird: its beak. Whether a bird is using its long beak to sniff out food like a kiwi, its curved beak to climb up a branch like a macaw, or its large beak to keep cool in warmer temperatures, a bird's beak plays an important role. The text, which follows the pattern "This beak is for..," uses a larger type to emphasize the beak's particular function. Simple, declarative sentences make this ideal for read-alouds or for readers who are just starting to read independently. Vibrant, textured illustrations not only show the bird up close but also depict the action described in the text. Captions provide further information, although the text is written at a higher reading level than the main text. The back matter includes a map of birds mentioned in the book, as well as additional sources. Page shows that despite their differences, all birds use their beaks to start life in the same way: by breaking out of their shell. VERDICT This detailed overview would be an excellent choice for collections that are looking for additional titles about birds.--Louie Lauer, Jefferson Elem. Sch., Fargo, ND
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Lauer, Louie. "PAGE, Robin. The Beak Book." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 12, Dec. 2020, p. 111. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643822167/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=b60fb522. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020
The Frog Book.
By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.
Illus. by Steve Jenkins. Feb. 2019.40p. HMH, $ 17.99 (9780544387607). Gr. 1-4. 597.89.
As if frogs themselves weren't sufficient draws, this picture book offers vibrant, attention-getting illustrations that hop off pages. Dozens of these intriguing amphibians are portrayed in their amazing array of natural colors, boldly highlighted against crisp, white backgrounds. Some are rendered half life-size, others full, including a meowing night frog about the size of a ladybug and an African Goliath bullfrog that spills over the edge of its page. Each gorgeous specimen is labeled, and the accompanying text covers basic information about environments, food, mating rituals, egg to tadpole to frog metamorphosis, oddities and extremes, defense systems, and endangered and extinct statuses. A culminating chart lists the critters by their often wonderful names (the pied warty frog and crucifix toad are just a few striking examples), corresponding page number, metric body length, diet, and range. A list of sources for further information is also included. The font is on the small side and might initially frustrate beginning readers, but the awesome torn- and cut-paper collages should spark curiosity and encourage further perusal. This is an attractive addition to the frog canon, a crowd-pleasing, perpetually popular subject, from the reliably excellent team of Jenkins and Page (see the Caldecott Honor Book What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? 2003).--Kathleen McBroom
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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McBroom, Kathleen. "The Frog Book." Booklist, vol. 115, no. 8, 15 Dec. 2018, p. 92. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A568257543/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=3aff3423. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
The Frog Book
by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page; illus. by the authors
Primary Houghton 40 pp. g
2/19 978-0-544-38760-7 $17.99
Jenkins and Page explain the basic biology of frogs, using a well-chosen collection of both representative and unique frog species. On each doublepage spread a key concept is introduced in a brief, informative paragraph, covering topics including anatomy, behavior, reproduction, growth, and development. Then a nicely designed balance of colorful, detailed cut-paper illustrations and friendly text expands on the concept. Large illustrations diagram the anatomical features of frogs--their skin, webbed feet, and tongues--or outline the differences between frogs and toads. Smaller, captioned images present variations across species, inviting readers to compare and contrast as a biologist would. The featured species portrayed are remarkable, and every sentence reveals a new and astonishing trait: frogs carry eggs in their vocal sacs, break their bones to serve as claws, and secrete poison and sticky mucous to defend themselves. As the book unfolds, the diversity of life is emphasized. An appended table lists facts and figures for each of the species presented, including size, diet, and habitat. DANIELLE J. FORD
g indicates that the book was read !n galley or page proof. The publisher's price is the suggested retail price and does not indicate a possible discount to libraries. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Ford, Danielle J. "The Frog Book." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 95, no. 2, Mar.-Apr. 2019, p. 102+. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A587973701/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=36481a77. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo? By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Illus. by Steve Jenkins. Apr. 2020. 40p. HMH, $17.99 (9780544387591). PreS-Gr. 3.636.
Caldecott Honor Book collaborators Jenkins and Page describe some of the many tasks of zookeepers in this latest offering. They go beyond the obvious answer, "feeding the animals," to detail some specific tasks: cuddling a joey, shining a tortoise's shell, brushing a hippo's teeth, and picking up panda poop. For each scenario, they offer a catchy verb phrase ("tickle a tapir"), provide a paragraph of explanation (wild tapirs scratch to remove ticks, but in captivity they enjoy having their fur raked), and include full-color artwork appropriate to the discussion. The varied illustrations, featuring this team's signature colored-paper collage, include close-ups (an elephant pedicure), spot art, and scenes that span beyond a page turn (five zookeepers stand on scales holding a python to determine its weight). The last four pages comprise a detailed appendix offering zoo pros and cons, a history of these facilities, a listing of top zoos, and further information about each cited species. Clever, engaging, and always informative, this will be welcomed by animal-lovers and fans of this duo.--Kay Weisman
** Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020
Booklist will mark the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote by calling out books about all aspects of women's lives past and present. Watch for the Women in Focus treatment throughout the magazine.
YA Recommendations
* Adult titles recommended for teens are marked with the following symbols: YA, for books of general YA interest; YA/C, for books with particular curriculum value; YA/S, for books that will appeal most to teens with a special interest in a specific subject; and YA/M, for books best suited to mature teens.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
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Weisman, Kay. "What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo?" Booklist, vol. 116, no. 13, 1 Mar. 2020, p. 40. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A618567170/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=8834bb81. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
Jenkins, Steve WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU WORK AT THE ZOO? HMH Books (Children's Fiction) $17.99 4, 28 ISBN: 978-0-544-38759-1
A menagerie of facts about the many jobs to do at the zoo.
Jenkins and Page present readers with an amuse-bouche look at a zookeeper's day in this informational picture book. The premise greatly simplifies the many roles of a zoo's staff under the rubric "zookeeper" and follows several humans (depicted mostly as disembodied hands in a variety of skin tones) as they perform unusual tasks for birds, mammals, and reptiles. Each fact alone is fodder for a picture book. In short, second-person paragraphs, readers learn that joeys that must be raised without their mothers are carried in cloth pouches that emulate those of a kangaroo; that aardvark ears are sensitive to the sun and may require the application of sunscreen; and that hyenas enjoy frozen bloodsicles on hot days. The backmatter includes a brief timeline of zoo history, locations of and facts about notable zoos, pros and cons of keeping animals captive, and an additional paragraph of information about each animal discussed. Jenkins' collage illustrations will be familiar to fans, and the balance of image to white space is visually well suited for classroom or group readers. The facts are intriguing enough to prompt new animal enthusiasms among young readers, so educators and caregivers should be prepared to use this book as a springboard for further exploration.
Delightful fare for animal lovers. (Informational picture book. 6-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Jenkins, Steve: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU WORK AT THE ZOO?" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2020. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A612619080/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=17087c14. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
Page, Robin SEEDS MOVE! Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (Children's Informational) $17.99 3, 19 ISBN: 978-1-5344-0915-6
Page examines how seeds move from their parent plants to places where they can sprout and grow.
The simple prose relies on action verbs for punch, if not scientific accuracy: A seed may "hitchhike," "catapult," "parachute," or even "plop"--in the poop of a berry-eating bear. Some spreads depict related actions: The large, buoyant seeds of the coconut palm and monkey-ladder vine can both drop into water and "drift" or "float" off, perhaps finding an auspicious shore for propagation. Particularly intriguing are seeds adapted in ways that encourage animals to mobilize them. Bloodroot seeds contain a morsel tasty to ants, which carry the seeds to their nest to eat and bury. The seeds of an unspecified African grass look and smell like antelope droppings, tricking dung beetles into rolling them underground. Farmers and gardeners are also acknowledged, and kids are encouraged to plant a watermelon seed "and see what happens." Crisply delineated against white space, digital illustrations use color, texture, and form to depict striking, identifiable images that are nonetheless stylized rather than scientific. Some of Page's choices in visual perspective may confound children curious about the sizes of seeds and animals. No geographical or biological information is provided for the plants and animals depicted--a missed opportunity to further engage young readers.
A pleasant but facile introduction to the important concept of seed dispersal. (Informational picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Page, Robin: SEEDS MOVE!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2018. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A563598502/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d030bb6c. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.
Seeds Move! By Robin Page. Illus. by the author. 2019.32p. Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane, $ 17.99 (9781534409156). PreS-Gr. 3. 851.4.
No matter what the seed or its place of origin, for that seed to germinate, it must move. This early informational science book reveals that all seeds either have a built-in "transportation system" or hitch a ride from an unwitting animal or insect. From exploding cucumbers, catapulting touch-me-nots, and parachuting milkweeds to mountain ash berries moving through a brown bear's digestive system, seeds find myriad ways to move. As both author and illustrator, Page has created an engaging approach for young children to understand the basic concepts of seed propagation. A simple line of text repeats for each new entry, varying to reflect its subject (e.g., "A seed drifts"), while more detailed information is included for slightly older children: "A coconut--the huge seed of the palm tree--drifts on the ocean." The big, bright digital illustrations resemble textured collages and will easily hold the attention of their young audience. As teachers or parents introduce the very young to seeds and how things grow, they may turn to Page's book again and again.--J. B. Petty
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 American Library Association
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Petty, J.B. "Seeds Move!" Booklist, vol. 115, no. 18, 15 May 2019, p. 52. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A589800292/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=70879872. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.