Author: Jessica Lanan
Picture Book: Nonfiction
Jumper is a nonfiction book that will appeal to pre-readers up to middle school. Imagine if you were as small as a bean and needed to hunt your own food in the big outdoors. You would need to be able to walk upside down, sense vibrations through your elbows, be able to jump five times your body length, hear using tiny hairs all over your body, and see through all eight of your eyes.
Whether you are a fan of spiders or not, this book is so interesting and delightful. With only a few words per page, it is a great read aloud nonfiction which can be hard to find. The illustrations are bright and appealing with great details. There is also a center fold-out to give you an idea of what “spider vision” looks like. The text and illustrations will appeal to even the youngest readers. The final few pages give in depth details and information about jumping spiders, a short glossary, and ideas for outdoor exploration and identifying different types of spiders. This additional content will interest more advanced readers.
Is the book well written and pleasing to read? Yes. Nonfiction books can be overwhelming for young readers but this book has found the perfect balance between information and entertaining story.
Are the illustrations appropriate for the age of the intended reader? Yes, watercolor style illustrations show great detail that is still appealing to young readers.
Does this book conform to Biblical standards of truth? Yes. Although God is never mentioned, the facts included in the book are all in alignment with biblical creation (no mentions of evolution etc.). Readers of all ages will be able to delight in God’s beautiful creation without wading through man made opinions.
Other notes: Jessica Lanan has also illustrated a picture book biography “Finding Narnia: The Story of C.S. Lewis and His Brother”. I have this book in my “To Buy” list and will be reviewing it for you soon!
You can purchase Jumper: A Day In The Life of a Jumping Spider at Amazon I receive a commission at no extra cost to you when you use this link to purchase
