Almost Gone : The World's Rarest Animals by Steve Jenkins (Genre: Non Fiction)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2006. Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060535988.

PLOT SUMMARY
The book starts with the introduction of a simple example of chickadees and goes on to explain the ecological cycle and ecological balance to children with the use of very simple language. The author talks about Grand Cayman blue iguanas, hairy nosed wombat, California condor and other species that are on the verge of extinction. This non fiction picture book has 28 different species listed from around the world that are rare. These include mammals, insects, reptiles and birds that are grouped in categories. There is one page for each species with a picture, animal description, basic facts, human activities that have contributed to their low numbers, the number of remaining animals and what steps the conservationists are taking to protect them. There is a world map at the back of the book that gives the locations where each animal is found.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals belongs to the Lets –Read-and –Find –Out –Science series. The author has taken a simple example of a bird in the beginning of the book to explain the young readers about ecosystem and ecological balance. The author also talks about the effect of the loss of one species on the other and the entire ecosystem.
There is information about one animal on every page. There is a small paragraph about the facts, location, number of animals surviving and what has contributed to their low number. The illustrations are very colorful and eye catching. The cut paper artwork has been done in such a creative way that the animal pictures get a realistic look to them.
The book’s categories are very well organized. The “almost gone” category talks about the animals that are rare and could disappear from the face of the earth. The “gone forever” category describes those species that are extinct now and the “coming back” category gives readers the confidence that these animals could be protected from extinction.
Almost Gone is a book with colorful and artistic illustrations that will be enjoyed not only by young children but will also keep readers of any age engaged with the wonderful facts and information about different species.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist:“Caldecott Honor Book illustrator Jenkins applies his considerable talents to the cause of conservation in this book in the long-running Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Using his signature cut-and torn-paper collages, he shows 21 endangered species, accompanying each image with a few sentences about the animal's habitat, a particular characteristic, and, sometimes, the reason for its endangered status.”
School Library Journal:“This engaging title is informative as well as visually stunning. Jenkins captures the essence of his subjects with appropriately colored, cut-paper collage illustrations on stark white backgrounds.”
Horn Book:“Jenkins first discusses the interdependence of living things, then portrays twenty-eight endangered and extinct animals. Each profile includes a striking cut-paper rendering of an animal along with a paragraph about the animal's habits and habitat and why its population has dwindled.”

CONNECTIONS
*Open a discussion with children about the earth, effects of pollution and how they can help keep the earth clean and save the planet.
*The world map could be used to teach the children about the location of animals and their habitat.
* Children could be encouraged to paint a picture of one endangered animal.
*Children could paint animal face masks as an art project.
Related book:
Jenkins, Steve. 2003.WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? Houghton Mifflin Books for Children .ISBN 9780618256280.