Rain Forest Secrets - Hardcover

Grade 1-4-- A serviceable and somewhat engaging look at the ecology of rain forests, describing the animals and plants found there and exploring reasons why these places must be protected. Unfortunately, the text is occasionally weak. The word "canopy" is used twice before it is defined; some words are italicized but never defined or are merely labelled on nearby illustrations; and there is no glossary. The watercolor illustrations are more cartoonlike than realistic, which suits the informal tone of the text. The book's one map uses two such similar shades of green that it nearly negates its purpose: to differentiate between the locations of tropical and temperate rain forests. In addition, only continents are labelled, so the statement "Temperate rain forests grow along the west coast of North America, from northern California to British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska" is valuable only to readers with a good grasp of geography. Also, the text is at times vague; for example, many children will not know what country or continent the following refers to: "The Amazon river, flowing through the biggest rain forest in the world, carries one-sixth of all the earth's water that flows into oceans." Included is a well-balanced list of organizations to contact for further information. Adequate as a starting place for discussion since there is little available on the subject, especially for this age group; complete the picture with books about specific animals and places, and an atlas. --Ellen Fader, Westport Public Library, CT
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This pedantically written, poorly organized introduction to rain forests concentrates on the tropical rain forest of the Amazon basin (which the author never mentions is in South America). A cursory examination of flora and fauna begins at the forest floor--with leafcutter ants, and trees with "stilt" or "buttress" roots--and works its way upward to the canopy, the top layer of trees. Following is a short discussion of the clearing of the rain forests and the global threat posed thereby. Important topics such as temperate rain forests, montane rain forests and mangrove forests are mentioned almost as afterthoughts. Belying the title's promise, there are no "secrets" revealed. Dorros's ( Me and My Shadow ) watercolors are painted in a naive style with little regard for perspective, a technique that seems unsuited to the text. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.