The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve. 1999. THE TOP OF THE WORLD: CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780395942185

Plot Summary

In this stunning informational picture book, Steve Jenkins chronicles the thrilling adventure and dangerous risks involved with climbing Mount Everest - the highest point on Earth.  Readers will discover interesting facts about the history, geography, climate, and culture of the Himalayas.  The important information one needs to begin a climbing expedition is shared with readers as they learn what type of special equipment they'll need to pack, as well as the hardships one may suffer on their journey to the top of the mountain.  Avalanches, frostbite, frigid temperatures, high winds, and limited oxygen are only a few of the possible dangers that await those who dare to climb this peak.  Young adventurers will enjoy learning about how climbing Mount Everest is recognized as one of the most difficult physical challenges in the world.

Critical Analysis

The astonishing facts Steve Jenkins shares with the reader about Mount Everest are thoroughly researched, and readers can explore this famous mountain peak further by looking through the Bibliography and the Mount Everest Records located on the last page.  Along with this informative text's authenticity, the exquisitely detailed cut paper collages depict the grandeur of this magnificent peak in a way that no other medium can.  The overall design of this informational book is breathtaking, and the creative text layout makes the experience of reading this book even more exciting for the reader.  Subheadings provide each block of text with a clear main idea, and the reader can easily locate the specific topics of information they are seeking.  The author's writing style stimulates the curiosity of those who read this book, and many readers will find themselves wanting to continue researching to discover additional facts and information about this impressive natural feature.  Despite the obvious dangers and risks involved in climbing such a formidable mountain, the reader cannot help but experience the same feeling of exhilaration on the final page of the book when a climber has finally reached the top and is now "the highest thing on earth."  The text and illustrations perfectly complement this informational book and allow Steve Jenkins to bring this amazing journey alive for all readers.

Awards

• 1999 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Winner, Nonfiction
• 2000 Orbis Pictus Honor Book
• School Library Journal Best Books of 1999
• Horn Book Fanfare 2000 List
• Notable Books for Children, 2000 American Library Association - ALSC

Review Excerpts

“...The cut-paper collage illustrations manage to show the grandeur of the world's tallest mountain with an immediacy that few photographs can.  The book follows a logical sequence, beginning with the statistics and continuing with a virtual climbing experience for the reader.  Exceptional design handles these bits of text remarkably well...the deft execution of the illustrations brings the whole package to a higher level."

               – The Horn Book, Starred Review

"Readers will cheer with the climber illustrated on the summit, and want to go back and pore over the details in the words and pictures again.  Suggestions for further reading and Web research conclude this excellent example of pictorial nonfiction."

               – School Library Journal, Starred Review


"At each step, the striking collages extend the information of the text and capture the majesty of the mountain.  Visually arresting and inspiring."

               – Kirkus Book Reviews

“The book teaches children about the thrills and risks of big mountains without frightening them." 

               – The New York Times Book Review

Connections

After reading The Top of the World, children can begin a unit of study that focuses on the geography and culture surrounding the Himalayan mountain range.  After researching, children can share their research findings and discuss how important they believe Mount Everest is to the economy in Nepal.  Do the hundreds of mountain climbers who travel from all over the world each year for a chance to reach the peak help to contribute to the local economy of Nepal?


Children will enjoy reading other books written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins to look for similarities and differences among his cut paper collages.


Children can research the heights of each individual mountain peak in the Himalayan mountain range, displaying their results in a graph once they are finished.