Rainforest Animals

Publisher: Fog City Press
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 978-1740897471
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: January 6, 2012

The rainforest is a beautiful place, and home to many exotic and interesting creatures. In Rainforest Animals, we meet many of them, through gorgeous photos and interesting text.

Geared to the early reader, Rainforest Animals, part of the “Snapshot Picture Library” series, introduces children to the animals of the planet’s rainforests. From feathery parrots, to scaly snakes, poisonous frogs and fuzzy mammals, there is a wide array of animals represented. The text is sparse, with most pages having only one or two short sentences. Within that brief content, however, are numerous interesting facts. Did you know that butterflies like the rainforest because of the humidity and that poisonous frogs don’t make their own poison? These and many other facts within this book make it an excellent source for students working on projects about the rainforest.

While the text is informative, the beautiful photography will hold the young reader’s attention and make them grab for this book, and others in this series, again and again. A full-page spread of two macaw parrots, in all their colorful glory as well as another full page devoted to the rare okapi, where you can see the front leg stripes, a characteristic it shares with its cousin the zebra, are just a few examples. At the back of the book is a two-page spread featuring small snapshots of each animal showcased in the book.

Quill says: Rainforest Animals is a fun and educational book that children will enjoy. It would also make an excellent addition to the classroom.