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I Am Josephine: And I Am a Living Thing
Meet Josephine: a spirited and curious girl, a big sister, and a human being. She’s also a mammal, an animal, and a living thing—all identities she explores with readers in this simple informational picture book.
Josephine presents her family (and herself) as examples of human beings, and then familiar creatures like her dog and her mom (and herself) as mammals. Next, she adds whales, lobsters, hummingbirds, and elephants (and herself) as examples of animals. Finally, she shares examples of living things, including moose, foxes, butterflies, flowers, and bugs… and, of course, herself!
Inspired by science and nature writer Jan Thornhill’s many classroom visits, this book is intended to help children recognize themselves as part of the natural world, with an emphasis on how all living things share similarities.
Playful, kid-friendly illustrations in vibrant colors paired with minimal text make this an easy introduction to the classification of living things. Endmatter goes into further detail about the unique characteristics of humans, mammals, animals, and living things.
LEVELING
Grade Range: PreK–2
Fountas & Pinnell: F
Reading Recovery: 9–10
Lexile: AD 530L
COMMON CORE
RI.1.1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10
L.1.1,1g,2,2a,2b,2c,4,5,5b,6
RF.1.1,2,3,4,4a,4b,4c
SL.1.1,1a,1b,1c,2,3,4,5,6
W.1.1,2,3,5,6,7,8
Josephine presents her family (and herself) as examples of human beings, and then familiar creatures like her dog and her mom (and herself) as mammals. Next, she adds whales, lobsters, hummingbirds, and elephants (and herself) as examples of animals. Finally, she shares examples of living things, including moose, foxes, butterflies, flowers, and bugs… and, of course, herself!
Inspired by science and nature writer Jan Thornhill’s many classroom visits, this book is intended to help children recognize themselves as part of the natural world, with an emphasis on how all living things share similarities.
Playful, kid-friendly illustrations in vibrant colors paired with minimal text make this an easy introduction to the classification of living things. Endmatter goes into further detail about the unique characteristics of humans, mammals, animals, and living things.
LEVELING
Grade Range: PreK–2
Fountas & Pinnell: F
Reading Recovery: 9–10
Lexile: AD 530L
COMMON CORE
RI.1.1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10
L.1.1,1g,2,2a,2b,2c,4,5,5b,6
RF.1.1,2,3,4,4a,4b,4c
SL.1.1,1a,1b,1c,2,3,4,5,6
W.1.1,2,3,5,6,7,8
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2016
About the author
Jan Thornhill
28 books17 followersI was born in 1955 in Sudbury, but spent most of my childhood in southern Ontario where, encouraged by my artist mother and engineer/inventor father, I developed a life-long passion for both art and the natural world. I spent a lot of time exploring the fields, woods, ponds, and streams near where I lived, and was an avid collector of things I found. I brought home all kinds of treasures – skulls and fossils, bird feathers and empty nests, insects, snake skins, fallen leaves. Eventually I labeled everything and made a museum in the basement. I thought I’d get rich by charging a 5¢ entry fee…but my mum was the only one who paid!
After high school, I attended the Ontario College of Art where I had fun making experimental films and videos – not drawing and painting. For about ten years after that, I illustrated freelance for magazines and newspapers, and did odd jobs such as sewing thousands of beads and sequins on Dolly Parton’s dresses. Finally, in the late eighties, I switched to the much richer life of creating children’s books. From the beginning, the aim of these wildlife-based books has been to foster in young readers a love of art, nature and the environment.
I live in the Kawarthas in a house in the woods that my husband and I built. As well as making books, I grow organic vegetables, raise a few chickens each year, make bread from captured wild yeast, and wander around in the woods looking for wild mushrooms, slime molds, beetles and animal skulls. A lot of the things I find – skulls, snake skins, desiccated insects, a mummified bat & hummingbirds, etc. – have made their way into what I call my “museum-in-a-bag,” a collection of natural treasures I share with kids when I visit schools. I’m an obsessive observer of the world around me, so much so that I consider a day I haven’t learned something to be a day wasted.
After high school, I attended the Ontario College of Art where I had fun making experimental films and videos – not drawing and painting. For about ten years after that, I illustrated freelance for magazines and newspapers, and did odd jobs such as sewing thousands of beads and sequins on Dolly Parton’s dresses. Finally, in the late eighties, I switched to the much richer life of creating children’s books. From the beginning, the aim of these wildlife-based books has been to foster in young readers a love of art, nature and the environment.
I live in the Kawarthas in a house in the woods that my husband and I built. As well as making books, I grow organic vegetables, raise a few chickens each year, make bread from captured wild yeast, and wander around in the woods looking for wild mushrooms, slime molds, beetles and animal skulls. A lot of the things I find – skulls, snake skins, desiccated insects, a mummified bat & hummingbirds, etc. – have made their way into what I call my “museum-in-a-bag,” a collection of natural treasures I share with kids when I visit schools. I’m an obsessive observer of the world around me, so much so that I consider a day I haven’t learned something to be a day wasted.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 15, 2016
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *
Josephine is a young girl who has learned that although the world is a big place, everything in it is connected. She is learning that she is many things, but she is also special and unique. She starts with linking herself to human beings, then mammals, then animals, and ending with her knowing she is a living thing. She also knows that she even though she is a part of many groups, that she is also an individual.
This book is definitely aimed a very young children. Most of the book does not explain why these groups exist, just what is a part of them. This bothered me. It did have a bullet-point in the back that explained the different groups, but that seemed to be written for much older kids. I think the author could have explained what links certain groups in broad vague terms within each section of the book, that little children would have understood. Then the more difficult part could just be cut from the back.
This book does use quite a lot of repetition, which is great for young children because it makes it easier for them to memorize. The illustrations are bold and colorful, which children will like, but they are not too busy which is nice. I think this would be a good book for preschoolers and maybe kindergartners.
Josephine is a young girl who has learned that although the world is a big place, everything in it is connected. She is learning that she is many things, but she is also special and unique. She starts with linking herself to human beings, then mammals, then animals, and ending with her knowing she is a living thing. She also knows that she even though she is a part of many groups, that she is also an individual.
This book is definitely aimed a very young children. Most of the book does not explain why these groups exist, just what is a part of them. This bothered me. It did have a bullet-point in the back that explained the different groups, but that seemed to be written for much older kids. I think the author could have explained what links certain groups in broad vague terms within each section of the book, that little children would have understood. Then the more difficult part could just be cut from the back.
This book does use quite a lot of repetition, which is great for young children because it makes it easier for them to memorize. The illustrations are bold and colorful, which children will like, but they are not too busy which is nice. I think this would be a good book for preschoolers and maybe kindergartners.
November 1, 2018
Very sweet book introducing concepts of species, class, etc in very easy, natural language for early readers - zooming out from Josephine to humans to mammals to animals to living things. Prompts for reading together - "how many mammals do you see on this page?" - and information in the back that could be skipped during storytime but is useful for kids with questions about why, like, a tree is a living thing but a log is not. Has a messagey-message ("we're all living things but I'm the only me!") but not too trite. Big, bright illustrations. Cuuuute.
February 28, 2017
This was a cute non-fiction picture book. It definitely is a good choice if you're interested in teaching children the difference and similarities between living things, humans, animals, mammals, etc. I like that it does give characteristics associated with each category for readers to learn more. The only negative thing about this book is that it doesn't give an interesting tie-in story. It's almost as if the information is cut and dry.
August 22, 2016
Don't let the bland cover deceive you -- this book is full of rich illustrations accompanying a STEM-filled story.
Josephine is not just a unique human being -- she's a mammal, an animal, and a living thing. Examples of other humans, mammals, animals, and living things are given, and the reader is invited to count them all.
This is a great way to begin introducing biology concepts at a young age.
I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Josephine is not just a unique human being -- she's a mammal, an animal, and a living thing. Examples of other humans, mammals, animals, and living things are given, and the reader is invited to count them all.
This is a great way to begin introducing biology concepts at a young age.
I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2016
I am Josephine by Jan thomhill is a science and children's fiction read.
Meet Josephine: a spirited and curious girl, a big sister, and a human being. She’s also a mammal, an animal, and a living thing—all identities she explores with readers in this simple informational picture book.
Josephine presents her family (and herself) as examples of human beings, and then familiar creatures like her dog and her mom (and herself) as mammals. Next, she adds whales, lobsters, hummingbirds, and elephants (and herself) as examples of animals. Finally, she shares examples of living things, including moose, foxes, butterflies, flowers, and bugs… and, of course, herself!
I read this to my 2 daughters at bedtime. They loved it. They loved the pictures too. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
Meet Josephine: a spirited and curious girl, a big sister, and a human being. She’s also a mammal, an animal, and a living thing—all identities she explores with readers in this simple informational picture book.
Josephine presents her family (and herself) as examples of human beings, and then familiar creatures like her dog and her mom (and herself) as mammals. Next, she adds whales, lobsters, hummingbirds, and elephants (and herself) as examples of animals. Finally, she shares examples of living things, including moose, foxes, butterflies, flowers, and bugs… and, of course, herself!
I read this to my 2 daughters at bedtime. They loved it. They loved the pictures too. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
December 28, 2016
I picked up this book because I love the name Josephine. I love this book because it teaches kids that all life is connected! Josephine is a human being, and a mammal, and an animal... she is many things but also uniquely Josephine. What I loved about this book, other than the bright illustrations and the beautiful diversity of the human beings, was that it explains the hierarchy of living things. It's a simple introduction to scientific classification but also teaching kids that we're all living things: humans, animals, plants. There's even a two page spread that talks about what is classified as a mammal, animal, etc. Another fun read aloud that encourages thinking (you can identify what animals are on a page together, and so on.) but also good reinforcement for those starting to learn about scientific classification and need it illustrated in the "real world."
October 6, 2021
Sweet idea with cute illustrations and decent summary information in the back about the categories of human beings, mammals, animals, and living things.
Ultimately, however, it misses the mark because this information is not provided at all throughout the book as necessary context. For example, a young reader would have no idea that they shouldn’t include the chickens in their count of mammals on the page that asks them “How many different kinds of mammals can you find this page?”, when on the previous page they were only told that some mammals are Josephine, her mom, her dog, and a groundhog 💁🏻♀️
It might also have been helpful to say things like how human beings are also called people (so it doesn’t just have to be inferred from the list of people given), the tree is a living thing because plants are also living, etc...Again, more necessary context/expansion.
Ultimately, however, it misses the mark because this information is not provided at all throughout the book as necessary context. For example, a young reader would have no idea that they shouldn’t include the chickens in their count of mammals on the page that asks them “How many different kinds of mammals can you find this page?”, when on the previous page they were only told that some mammals are Josephine, her mom, her dog, and a groundhog 💁🏻♀️
It might also have been helpful to say things like how human beings are also called people (so it doesn’t just have to be inferred from the list of people given), the tree is a living thing because plants are also living, etc...Again, more necessary context/expansion.
January 25, 2018
I wanted to leave 4 stars, and wish I could leave 3.5 because "I am Josephine" is truly a fun and engaging story.
In the book, Josephine spends time showing us her world and who in her life is a living thing, an animal, a mammal, or a human being. At the very end are lists detailing how to classify each of those things. I only wish those descriptors had been written into the story along the way. When Josephine declared she's a mammal, then asked us to count the mammals on the next page, she had yet to explain what makes a mammal.
Great concept, fun characters, and enjoyable artwork.
In the book, Josephine spends time showing us her world and who in her life is a living thing, an animal, a mammal, or a human being. At the very end are lists detailing how to classify each of those things. I only wish those descriptors had been written into the story along the way. When Josephine declared she's a mammal, then asked us to count the mammals on the next page, she had yet to explain what makes a mammal.
Great concept, fun characters, and enjoyable artwork.
December 15, 2021
A sweet, bouncy picture book about Josephine, a kid with light brown skin and curly black hair, who revels in her connections to other living things, mammals, and animals just like her-- while still knowing that she is the only one of herself! Nice I spy element is built in as readers are invited to see how many other mammals, animals, living things, etc. can be spotted on a given page.
Themes: We are all connected, Animals, Nature
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten
Themes: We are all connected, Animals, Nature
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten
June 19, 2017
Such a fun way to introduce the concept of living things to young kiddos. This book will want to be read again after read aloud because there are so many opportunities for students to think and answer questions posed by the author.
December 25, 2017
I Am Josephine (And I Am a Living Thing) is science and math explained in a fun and believable way. Without the picture examples used to help define what a living thing is I don’t believe the book would have been as informative.
I am so pleased I read this book.
I am so pleased I read this book.
September 16, 2020
Lovely resource to help explain what/who we are in relation to other living beings to very young children. Could be utilised as a PSHE resource or read for pure joy. Beautiful, vibrant images and nice interaction.
Only complaint: I wish she had been more friendly to the cat!
Only complaint: I wish she had been more friendly to the cat!
September 13, 2017
A great introduction to classification for younger readers. I only wish there'd been even just a little bit of explanation as to why Josephine is each of those things.
June 5, 2018
Tumblebook. I think better for a bit older kid...
October 23, 2018
Great for teaching living things, animals, mammals, human beings science vocabulary. K-3 grades.
August 14, 2020
Jan up to her usual blend of education and humour. Her love of nature shines through the book, along with her uniqueness.
October 14, 2021
It might be helpful to have those definitions a bit earlier on in the book, but we really enjoyed this.
July 20, 2022
Loved that this book discussed living things and classification from animal to mammal to human and went over why we have those categories, great early lessons in biology.
October 30, 2016
Josephine helps you understand that you are a person, a mammal and an animal!
November 21, 2016
I AM NOT an animal.
I am a human. I am a mammal. I am a living being. However, I AM NOT an animal. I have a soul, and I was created in God's image. Like other humans, I have a choice to help build something better of our world or destroy it; I can choose to use my voice to speak out, express my opinions, and try to make our world better; and like other humans, I can take ownership of my mistakes and try to do better...all things animals cannot do.
I do NOT blindly swallow this Koolaid. I b>AM NOT an animal. And to teach children that they are animals is insanity. Why should they ever have to take ownership for anything in life then? So much of the madness I see in our world now makes perfect, horrible sense; children are being taught that they are animals so of course, they will act like animals. Why should we be surprised if they murder and kill and steal and riot and lie and destroy and act out? They are just acting how they have been conditioned.
At best, being told that you are an animal sounds really condescending. If someone tells you that you are are an animal, they usually aren't meaning anything positive by it, you know? At worst, you are about to find yourself in trouble. People are people. Period.
Everything else in this book was great. If the author would have left out that one section, I would have fully supported it.
I am a human. I am a mammal. I am a living being. However, I AM NOT an animal. I have a soul, and I was created in God's image. Like other humans, I have a choice to help build something better of our world or destroy it; I can choose to use my voice to speak out, express my opinions, and try to make our world better; and like other humans, I can take ownership of my mistakes and try to do better...all things animals cannot do.
I do NOT blindly swallow this Koolaid. I b>AM NOT an animal. And to teach children that they are animals is insanity. Why should they ever have to take ownership for anything in life then? So much of the madness I see in our world now makes perfect, horrible sense; children are being taught that they are animals so of course, they will act like animals. Why should we be surprised if they murder and kill and steal and riot and lie and destroy and act out? They are just acting how they have been conditioned.
At best, being told that you are an animal sounds really condescending. If someone tells you that you are are an animal, they usually aren't meaning anything positive by it, you know? At worst, you are about to find yourself in trouble. People are people. Period.
Everything else in this book was great. If the author would have left out that one section, I would have fully supported it.
August 21, 2016
Josephine is a girl who is finding out that she is part of a big world and has things in common with many things. Starting with human being, then mammal, animal and finally a living thing, she learns that she is many things, including just Josephine. A simple fun way to learn about the world and where we fit in. There is a lot of repetition that makes it easy for children to learn and remember. The illustrations are fun, colourful and child friendly. I liked that they added information about each of the groups at the end of the book so further discussion and possible investigation could occur. A good book for a science lesson or center in a Kindergarten or primary classroom.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2016
I really enjoyed this book, the images are lovely and bright, the layout is great it keeps attention too. The whole concept is good overall and its been put together well. Josephine is a young girl who has learned that although the world is a big place, everything in it is connected. She is learning that she is many things, but she is also special and unique. She starts with linking herself to human beings, then mammals, then animals, and ending with her knowing she is a living thing. She also knows that she even though she is a part of many groups, that she is also an individual. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
read-no-stats
November 7, 2016I Am Josephine is an introduction to classification that explores the traits human beings share with the multitude of creatures on Earth, but also emphasizes how each of us is an individual. There are interactive pages where the child is asked to count the number of specific classifications on a page. At the end, the basic traits of living things, animals, mammals, and human beings are listed. The illustrations are brightly colored and full of movement. I enjoyed this look at how a human being can be many things!
I received this book for free from NetGalley and Owlkids Books. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I received this book for free from NetGalley and Owlkids Books. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 16, 2016
Josephine is many things. She's a human being, as are others in her family. Can you spot the human beings in the next double-page spread? she's also a mammal, and an animal. Can you spot the mammals and animals? She is a living thing like so many other living things. She is all of these things and more. she is unique. She is Josephine. While there's no plot here at all, there is plenty of opportunity for interaction and the bright, joyous illustrations invite readers in. The book ends with lists that show properties of living things, animals, mammals, and human beings. This would be a fun book for kindergarten teachers to use with their students.
February 1, 2017
A simple book, for preschool or kindergarten aged minds, to teach what humans are to the world. We find out that humans fit into several categories, but are extremely different from those that are also in the category. For example, humans are animals, but so are deer. If care and attention are taken, while reading this book to a child, it should be emphasized that we all have similarities, but we are all different in our own ways, and that it is the way we are meant to be!
This honest review was able to happen due to a digital ARC via OwlKids Books and NetGalley!
This honest review was able to happen due to a digital ARC via OwlKids Books and NetGalley!
February 4, 2017
What is Josephine? Join her on a beautifully illustrated adventure as she explores human beings, mammals, animals and living things. The text is simple and easy for young readers to understand. I enjoyed that it had a sort of small interactive component where the author asks the reader to find/ count (human beings, mammals, animals and living things) on selected pages. This would be a nice introduction for a science unit.
Side note: My absolute favorite part of this book is the illustrations!
I received an ARC via NetGalley & Owlkids Books in exchange for an honest review.
Side note: My absolute favorite part of this book is the illustrations!
I received an ARC via NetGalley & Owlkids Books in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2017
A great book for explaining humans and mammals to children Josephine starts with she is a living thing than keeps expanding her definition to get to too bigger categories of what she is like animals and living thing. Make sure to read to the end as I thought one page was an afterword but there was still more story to come. simple words and I liked the audience find pages. One on one or preschool.
January 24, 2017
Josephine, depicted as a brown-skinned girl with rosy cheeks, explores what it is to be a living thing, a human being, a mammal and an animal. Colorful illustrations give examples of each while the book asks interactive questions about these different categories of living things. Includes a descriptive page at the end with bullet points differentiating between living thing, animal, mammal and human being. Better suited for one-on-one exploration than storytime.
August 21, 2016
Josephine is a human being and so are her parents and her brother. Josephine is a mammal and so is the dog, the cat and her parents. With several other examples of what Josephine is, the reader then has an opportunity to find more human beings, mammals and other examples in the book. This could almost turn into a game and be a lot of fun.
August 26, 2016
This is an interesting way to start putting science foundations in front of children. It is pulled off very well. Josephine is a human, she is also a mammal, an animal, and a living thing. Towards the end they even break down in simple terms the difference between the various classification. This book is very well done and has great illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews