Review by Booklist Review
After taking readers to the seas in Dive In (2020), Munro transports them to the Amazon rain forest in this exquisitely illustrated and similarly formatted informational picture book. Following a brief introduction to rain forests come 30 different animal species that make their home in the Amazon. Double-page spreads with verdant backgrounds, accented with bright splashes of color from flora and fauna, feature intricately detailed animals at full size. These include green iguanas that move faster than racehorses, eyelash vipers that are accidentally shipped all over the globe with bananas because of their yellow color, and black-eared fairy hummingbirds that can fly forward and backward. The text highlights the animal's name and describes a few of its traits in a short paragraph, with italicized words defined in a glossary. Attention--grabbing visual hints, like a spotted leg, splayed feathers, or gray fur that spans several spreads, are also employed and lead readers to a jaguar, a harpy eagle, and a giant anteater on consecutive pages. A concluding diagram reveals how the illustrations form a mural, with a color-coded key identifying each animal and its classification (mammal, insect, reptile, etc.). More back matter comprises information on rain forest layers and a map of tropical rain forests around the world. Once again, Munro's kid-friendly style invites young readers to wonder about the earth and its creatures.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--5--Tropical rainforests, like the Amazon in South America, contain a vast array of species ranging from tiny ants to large primates. Each of the four layers of the Amazon rainforest is home to innumerable creatures--some of which have yet to be discovered. However, due to rapid deforestation by humans to make way for farming and industry, the Earth risks losing the vital, life-giving support provided by this rich landscape. Vivid, ink-based illustrations depict a handful of the animals and plants that call the Amazon rainforest home. Each page features one to three animals, all drawn true-to-size. Readers must search the images for the creatures introduced in the text and will be captivated by the myriad hues and intricate detail used in each one. To make room for the anteater, two pages fold out, immersing readers even more deeply into this multifaceted world. Paragraphs of accessible text give readers a wealth of facts about each animal in the book, the names of which stand out in colorful, bold letters. Potentially unfamiliar words are italicized within the text and are defined at the end of the book. Accompanying traditional nonfiction back matter is a detailed description of the four layers of a tropical rainforest, a coloring page that combines the illustrations in the book, and a note about the unequivocal need for the conservation of rainforests around the world. VERDICT This is an important addition to elementary school nonfiction collections as a means of encouraging global conservation through education.--Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Having taken readers on a tour of Caribbean coral reefs (Dive In, rev. 7/20), Munro explores another area rich in biodiversity: the Amazon rainforest, an intriguing and vibrant place. Here she showcases thirty animals (despite mentioning that rainforests contain two-thirds of the world's plants, no flora are featured). Each animal is depicted in actual size, displaying its unique and vibrant colors against a lush background, as seen through Munro's vivid, jewel-toned palette of acrylic inks. Short paragraphs provide pertinent facts about the creatures, ranging from diet, to protective defenses such as camouflage and venom, to mating practices. The book includes a maplike outline showing all thirty animals with accompanying color-coded numbers; the legend indicates which colors represent each class. An appended spread defines the four layers of the rainforest and provides a brief overview of the importance -- and destruction -- of these lands. A glossary, bibliography, suggestions for further reading and websites, and an index are included. A map depicting the world's tropical rainforests concludes the book. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Get up close and personal with myriad creatures that call the Amazon rainforest home. Animals that dwell at all levels of a South American tropical rainforest are depicted realistically--i.e., true to size and color--in this fascinating book. Note to readers: The realism can be startling; be on the lookout for occasional sharp claws, teeth, and spikes, for instance. Each spread highlights one to three creatures presented against a colorful natural-habitat backdrop, accompanied by lively, concise paragraphs. These provide interesting, easy-to-understand basic facts; the names of the animals herein (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids, and a centipede) appear in colored display type. Italicized words within explanatory passages indicate vocabulary contained in a glossary. One feature sure to please is a center gatefold that opens to reveal a giant anteater. The backmatter contains useful information, including a two-page spread depicting all the animals featured in the book, color-labeled according to species; facts about the layers of rainforests and how to preserve rainforests; a bibliography that includes both books and websites; and an index. Rear endpapers display a map showing where tropical rainforests are located around the world. A fine resource for browsers and young students doing simple research. (Informational picture book. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
