Rainforest Romp

The author and illustrator of Amazing Machines know what preschoolers like and just how to present information to them. Now they turn their attention to animals, guiding readers on a trek through the South American rainforest to meet some truly amazing creatures. With bouncy rhyming text, a different animal featured on each spread, and plenty of background details, young readers are sure to enjoy the trip.

The author and illustrator of Amazing Machines know what preschoolers like and just how to present information to them. Now they turn their attention to animals, guiding readers on a trek through the South American rainforest to meet some truly amazing creatures. With bouncy rhyming text, a different animal featured on each spread, and plenty of background details, young readers are sure to enjoy the trip.

Children's Literature

This is a nicely illustrated picture book about animals that live in a rainforest. They are watched by two visitors hiding behind tall grass, walking over a wooden bridge, and hiding in a shed. Descriptions are short and simple. Tapirs, armadillos, jaguars, birds, monkeys, snakes, tree frogs, sloths, and anteaters leap, swing, slither, fly, hop, and run through the forests. Birds eat fruit and insects, tapirs sniff for plant life with their long snouts, the giant armadillo has skin like armored scales, and sloths move very slowly and live alone in trees. Howler monkeys stay high in the trees and have very loud cries. Young children will enjoy learning about these seldom seen animals. Illustrations are large and colorful, in bright colors. The book ends with a question for the reader, "Did you spot ?" Readers can then look through the book again to find the animals shown. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi

Tony Mitton is a widely anthologized children's poet, as well as a teacher and performing poet. His Royal Raps won the 1997 Nottinghamshire Libraries/Dillons Children's Book Award. His recent collection of poetry, Plum, won the Publishers Weekly 2003 Cuffies Award for Best Book of Poetry. Tony teamed with illustrator Ant Parker on several books, including Dazzling Diggers, Roaring Rockets, and Terrific Trains. Ant Parker studied drawing and printing at the Bath Academy of Art in England and has taught papermaking, printing and bookbinding workshops for children.