Synopsis
Describes what a rain forest is and what types of plants and animals reside there.
Children's Literature
This entry in the "First Reports" series describes the climate, forest features, animals (divided into hanging and swinging animals and creeping or crawling ones), and plants found in rain forests. Tapirs, sloths, leaf-cutter ants, snakes and anteaters are some of the animals mentioned (no butterflies). A short section presents the rainforest-dwelling people in Brazil and in the Congo who live along the river. Reasons to protect the rainforests included in the text are to save animals, to preserve plants that may help humans and to save an important food source. Special vocabulary (eleven words including understory, highlands, humidity, canopy, forest floor and arboreal) appears in bold type and again in a glossary. Pictures are current, varied and well-captioned. This useful and clearly written text provides a good introduction to the subject for young readers and is supported with a short "Did You Know?" section, "Facts at a Glance," book and web site references, an index and "Places to Write to for More Information." 2001, Compass Point Books, $21.26. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Susan Hepler