What Can Jump?

Children's Literature

This "What Can?" entry in the "Read and Learn" nonfiction series begins with a definition of jumping ("a way of moving") and then poses a series of mostly evident questions. Can small animals, big animals, bugs, webbed footed animals, beans, machines or people jump? Each double page spread shows two examples that may or may not jump, and extra information is given. For instance, in one clever juxtaposition for "Can beans jump?", there's a photograph of beans growing on a plant (and some children will immediately insist that "Mexican jumping beans can jump!") and then there's a photo of the interior of a bean with a caterpillar inside which may, says the text, cause the bean to look like it is jumping. Photographs in this series are clear and colorful and an ending quiz question with reference to a previous page, a picture glossary, and a small index help readers become familiar with nonfiction text and some of its conventions in this nicely done series. In addition, the layout of the text encourages new readers to tackle these books with real success. 2004, Heinemann Library, Ages 3 to 6.
—Susan Hepler, Ph.D.