rocks, climbing higher into the
trees. A poison dart frog makes
his way up the trunk with a
tadpole on his back.
Our hanging bridge teeters and
tips with every wobbly step. I
keep a tight grip on the rail.
We're eye to eye with capuchin
monkeys. They hold on ... "
Three outstanding books from this collaborative pair have preceded this one: Over and Under the Snow (2014), Up In the Garden and Down in the Dirt (2015) and Over and Under the Pond (2017). To read this book and find that it matches expectations is not surprising, but lovely just the same.
The first spread is a grand invitation to the grandeur of the rainforest. Tito and our child narrator approach its many sounds with wonder and with a question.
"What's up there?" I whisper."
Tito speaks of the hidden world that is there in the trees ... the place they are passing under as they move forward. The trees are filled with life, and the audience is made aware of that. As they hike along, the two take note as well of what is on the ground around them.
The South American rainforest has been the subject of much concern in recent months, due to the devastation happening there. Visiting it in the pages of this book and seeing the animals that share this natural habitat is a feast for the ears and eyes. Monkeys, insects and birds live where they cannot always be seen, but are certainly heard. The two hikers are always aware of what is above and below them as they continue along, crossing bridges from one magnificent scene to the next.
If readers don't know what an oropendola is, they will have a chance to get a good look in the brightly colored, detailed mixed media artwork that perfectly pairs with the author's descriptive text. The views alternate from above to below them, offering as much variety in perspective as in the creatures mentioned. As the sun goes down and shadows set in, Tito and his charge head home for a dinner prepared by Abuelita, and a much-needed rest after their grand adventure.
An author's note explains that visiting the rainforest had long been a dream. Her family's experiences in the Costa Rican rainforest led to writing this book ten years after that intial visit. She follows up with appreciated information about the animals featured in this lovely bookt. Educational and fascinating, Over and Under the Rainforest is sure to please many readers.
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