How Big Is It?

Yes, this book fosters the development of processes by providing information through which students can undergo research and formulate hypotheses to then later draw conclusions upon. Students can use the information found in the book to predict and infer about the sizes of other things they might be curious about.

Author: Ben Hillman
Year Published: 2007
ISBN: 0439918081

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

2nd Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

5th Grade

Summary

This book removes the confusion of the abstract by teaching size through eye-catching juxtaposition in "oh wow!" images. For instance, any idea about the size of the mysterious Giant Squid of the deep? Sure, you could read that it's 59.5 ft. long. While that sounds impressive enough, it's a little abstract. However, when you see a full-color illustration of a Giant Squid placed in front of the entire length of a farmhouse, you get a real idea of what 59.5 feet means!

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: High
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: Medium
Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Yes, the book’s title and cover encourage students to begin to inquire about the sizes of things. The information inside could lead children to wonder about the sizes of other things, which could lead to further inquiry to find those answers. Students could also read the table of contents and make predictions about the sizes of the things listed relative to objects in the world around them.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Because the book so clearly lays out the information, it does not necessarily encourage children to think for themselves. While it encourages inquiry in the ways stated above, it does not do a good job in providing children with questions to guide their thinking, or to challenge the ideas listed in the book.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

This book could be used for a myriad of different lessons, but the information for each given page could also be a lesson in and of itself. For example, many of the entries are about things in space. Incorporating those pages into a lesson on space could help kids to see the immense size of planets and other things in our solar system in terms that are easier for them to comprehend.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

Yes, the content is based on sound scientific principles, and appears to be accurate. At the end of the book, a list of credits is given to the scientists, organizations, and journals responsible for providing the information that fills the pages. The book is filled with statistics and measurements that add to its credibility.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

Although the book appears to contain mostly facts, there are times where it will point out common misconceptions related to the topic of interest. For example, on the page about Olympus Mons, the book clarifies that Mount Everest is not technically the tallest mountain in the world, but Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It goes on to explain that Mount Everest earns the title because its higher sea level makes it “reach higher in the sky.”

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes, the illustrations are very clear. They accomplish the purpose of showing the reader just how big something is by showing it in relation to something whose size is easier to wrap your mind around. For example, a giant squid is shown stretching across the base of a house to show its immense length.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes, this book is very easy to read and understand. With the exception of a few vocabulary words that could be defined ahead of time, I do not foresee my students struggling with this text.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

While the book is free from stereotyping, it is void of multicultural content. In fact, very few of the pages contain people at all. It is not a culturally-relevant text, per se, but it is great at teaching the facts in an understandable, accessible way.

Is the book free from gender bias?

Yes, the book is free from gender bias. Again, there are very few people in the book to begin with, but I would not consider those whose photograph is in the book to be gender biased in any way, shape, or form.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

No, the book does not necessarily outright tie itself into any other disciplines, but could be used in a reading lesson as an informational text, which my students are doing right now. It could also be used in a social studies lesson when speaking of different animals that belong in different parts of the world, or about certain objects, such as the Hindenburg, that play a role in history.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Yes, the book presents a positive attitude toward science in particular. Filled with statistics, measurements, and facts, this book shows how accessible the things around us can be – even when they seem too large to imagine. Because this book is easy to read, I believe that children would have a positive attitude toward science when reading this book as well.