The Living Rain Forest

February 1, 2004
For Aspiring Scientists A handful of titles will appeal to the scientifically inclined. The Living Rainforest: An Animal Alphabet by Paul Kratter (Butterfly Count; River Discoveries) allows a look at the habitat's creatures from A to Z, including unusual examples of otherwise familiar animals (the Amazon River dolphin and Sumatran rhinoceros) as well as more exotic ones, such as the red-and-green feathered "resplendent quetzal." Featuring creatures from Africa to South America to Australia, Kratter's precise illustrations accompany informative text that brims with animal facts their binomial nomenclature, approximate size and a glossary of terms.

April 1, 2004
Gr 3-5-Kratter's text serves as mere accompaniment to his acrylic-and-watercolor paintings of 26 animals in tropical rain forests, from the giant anteater to the zorro. Each illustration is identified with the animal's common and scientific names plus an indication of its length. Unfamiliar words in the brief paragraph on the facing page are defined directly below the sentences. Abundant white space surrounds both text and art, enhancing the potential for group viewing. Endpaper maps indicate locations of the animals, but the text rarely mentions where they are found. Although the information provided is not substantial enough to serve as an overview of the topic, the pictures could offer a striking introduction to units about tropical rain forests.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2004
Of the multitude of species that live in the rainforest, Kratter has chosen twenty-six animals to pair with the letters of the alphabet. A short description of each animal, its common and Latin name, and its size accompany a lifelike acrylic and watercolor portrait. Scientific terms are defined below the text block. The handsomely designed book may inspire further research.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

February 1, 2004
PreS-Gr. 2. Kratter's" Living Rain Forest "is an example of what artist Paul Zelinsky has referred to as "the alphabet as an excuse." These books, aimed at children who are probably well versed in their letters, have an A-to-Z format that works mostly as an organizing principle for facts. Here, each letter is matched with a different rain-forest creature, and includes a few animal facts that will appeal to elementary-age children. Vocabulary words, such as "arboreal," are defined right on the page. The uncluttered layouts position the text blocks and the exquisite, photorealistic paintings of the animals against lots of white space, and an unlabeled map on the endpapers gives a general idea of where rain forests are located across the globe. With eye-catching visuals, an engaging theme, and basic information, the book will appeal to a wide age range: preschoolers learning their letters with the help of an older reader as well as elementary-age children ready to dive into the science on their own. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)