Review by Booklist Review
The stellar Insiders series scores again with this macro/micro examination of a habitat in crisis. The quality is apparent with the very first spread: arranged vertically, the layers of a rain forest are drawn with exacting detail in every imaginable shade of green, while circular inserts zoom in on flora with accompanying stats. Running down the length of the spread are markers delineating the cutoff points for each layer emergent, canopy, and so on. The rest of the book is similarly fine, bringing animals, reptiles, and insects into the mix. It's all a bit overwhelming; readers are advised to take advantage of the table of contents to plot their attack. Some photographs join the mostly hand-illustrated affair, and larger environmental concerns are addressed in such sections as Felling the Forests and back matter on endangered and extinct species. What will grab browsers are the 3-D cover and vivid drawings on thick, oversize pages, but what will keep them reading is a cumulative sense of the rain forest as a verdant universe nearly festering with life.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-Vogt introduces the basic structure of tropical rain forests and discusses features of the various layers. He considers a variety of plants and focuses on several examples, including the strangler fig and rafflesia. He also notes the serious environmental damage caused by the destruction of the forests. The second half of the volume places selected rain forest animals "in focus." Basic facts about each of them accompany a small world map with the animals' location noted. A grid along the page's edge indicates the layer(s) of the forests in which the animal spends most of its time. Striking visuals, a hallmark of the series, will grab readers' attention. Vertical as well as horizontal spreads create additional visual interest. Vogt includes a glossary and index but no list of resources. With plenty of eye appeal, the book will attract browsers and offer a colorful update for collections needing additional material on the topic.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The rich variety of species in a rainforest ecosystem is depicted and described with reference to specific geographic locations. Each spread features several examples of a layer's resident plant or animal life, alternating in horizontal and vertical orientation, which makes frequent turning of the book necessary. In spite of the visually engaging presentation, some small-print captions disappear against dark backgrounds. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
