"Giant armadillos can grow up to 5 feet
(1 1/2 meters) long. They carry their
own defensive armor - a leathery shell
made up of overlapping plates. Their
long, sharp front claws help them dig
out termites and ants from mounds.
They have up to a hundred teeth - more
than any other animal."
If you want to know more about the animals that make their homes in the Amazon rainforest, this is the book for you. It's a terrific book for those children who always want to know more about animals and their habitats. Ms. Munro begins with an introduction to this particular rainforest, letting her readers know that, while all rainforests have similarities, they are not the same.
"Not all rainforests have the same animals. For instance, you will see a gorilla or a hippo only in an African rainforest. A Southeast Asian rainforest in Indonesia is the only place where you will find an orangutan. On your journey through this book you will find Amazonian creatures (and plants) painted at their real size, from tiny to tremendous, and from dangerous to helpful to humans."
She begins with Emerald tree boas on a double-page spread that provides an informative paragraph and a close-up look at the brilliant green, coiled snake whose preferred diet consists of mice, lizards, bats, ane even monkeys. Moving on, the spreads offer clear and concise material describing two or three rainforest creatures. They are pictured on detailed habitat backgrounds, and presented in true size and color. Included are mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids, and a centipede.
The names of the animals pictured are shown in colored type; words included in the glossary are italicized within the paragraphs to make them accessible in back matter. A center gatefold opens to present an giant anteater. Giant is right!
Back matter is extensive and extremely engaging. A black and white rainforest scene, with colored numbers, includes all of the animals included in previous text. Below it, there is a chart with the names of the creatures placed next to their corresponding number. Then, the author offers a report on the four layers of the rainforest and the ways in which rainforests can be preserved. Further pages include a glossary, additional reading in reference books, children's books, websites to visit, and an index. Finally, a world map shows where tropical rainforests can be found.
The Amazon Rainforest ... what an invitation to read with children to initiate a conversation about conservation!
Gosh...what a perceptive review. Thanks so much - I think children, who love animals, will be intrigued by the (NOT cartoon-y) real life art and fascinating facts. I grew to love my characters...it is SOOOOO important to preserve our irreplaceable ecosystems!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a wonderful, and perceptive, review. Love the quotes you chose (from the Intro, about different rainforests, to the individual critter's particular features). And you gave a great overview of content, including backmatter... As I have researched ecosystems, it becomes more apparent how important young people are in directing how our future will turn out.
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