THE TOP OF THE WORLD CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST

 

Title: THE TOP OF THE WORLD CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST
Author/Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Published By: Houghton Mifflin Company

The facts presented in this picture book are varied and interesting. Several short paragraphs are presented on the two-pages side by side, each with its own title and illustrations. The very last page of the book includes a comparison chart of the tallest mountain on each continent, records from Everest (up through January, 1999), additional websites, and a bibliography. Unfortunately, this volume did not include any information about the author or the art. However, I know his choice of art because I am studying him for my author's study. Even through there is no table of contents, the headings of the paragraphs helped me locate information while reading through the entire book. Rather than being a book that would be appropriate for research, this volume is more appropriate for pleasure reading by a student that is interested in mountains. It makes a great introduction to the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.

I know from reading other books that Steve Jenkins illustrations are made from cut and torn handmade papers and fibers which give each page texture and interest. Different colors of papers layered on each other give a 3-D appearance (how cool is that). The fibers which create the snow and clouds are particularly interesting because I tried to feel the textures and realized that it was just flat pieces of torn paper. The fact that all the equipment is also cut from paper is amazing – the detail is surprising. As an older reader I enjoyed trying to analyze the illustrations along while I was reading about Everest. I was just so amazed with his work, I could spend hours just looking at his illustrations.