Fernando's Gift

Ilene Cooper

Set deep in the Costa Rican rain forest, this bilingual (English and Spanish) story introduces young Fernando and his family. His mother takes care of the family, and his father tends crops and teaches people about preserving the rain forest. Fernando's best friend, Carmina, has a special cristobal tree where she likes to play, but one day, the tree is gone, cut down by those who wish to use the rain forest for their own purposes. Fernando has been unsure of what to give Carmina for her birthday, but now he has the perfect gift--a tiny cristobal tree from his father's nursery. They plant the tree in a secret spot, where the children hope it will be able to live a long life. The book is handsomely designed and features exceptionally crisp color photographs, though in several places those pictures are obviously posed. The story's message about the importance of the rain forest comes across in an accessible and child-friendly manner. Author's note appended.