Siy, Alexandra. (2005). Illustrated with photographs by Alexandra Siy and
Photomicrographs by Dennis Kunkel. Mosquito bite. Watertown, MA:
Charlesbridge. 32 pages. ISBN# 0-618-44555-2
Award: 2006 Selector’s Choice for Outstanding Science Trade Book
Orbis Pictus Honor Book, 2006
Grade level/s: 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Credibility of author: The author used color photographs called photomicrographs taken with a scanning electron microscope. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was used as a resource. The author acknowledged assistance from the Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory, and the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District of California.
Summary: This book begins with a girl and boy playing hide-and-seek outside. At the same time, they are coming into contact with a mosquito. This book simultaneously describes the life cycle of a mosquito along with the game of hide-and-seek using black and white photographs of the children and colorful micrographs of mosquitoes.
Standards: National Science Standards (IV, VII)
Illustrations: Each page includes black and white photographs along with colorful photomicrographs taken with a scanning electron microscope.
Access features: Glossary, subject index, resource section which include websites
Other features: At the end of the book, there is additional information about mosquitoes and micrographs.
Use: This book would make a good read aloud for 2nd and 3rd graders. Fourth graders could read independently. Children in 2nd-4th would enjoy studying the photomicrographs in detail. This book could be used during a unit of study on insects.
Response: The photomicrograph was a new type of illustration that I have probably seen before, but did not know what it was called. I found the colored photomicrographs to be very interesting and spent a lot of time examining them in detail. I feel this is a book that people of all ages might enjoy and gain new information.
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1 comment:
It might be interesting to compare photographs in different nonfiction books. For example, compare Lewis Hines' photographs or Gordon Parks' photos (see Kathy's 4:00 Book Club entry), and photos from Seymour Simon's books about natural disasters, animals, and the human body. Photos are used in all the books but all photographs are not the same.
Then use disposal cameras or a digital camera for kids to take photos themselves--they might actually take better photos if they've studied the photos of others. P.S. Children of the Dump is another book that uses photographs in a powerful way.
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