[In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)] [By: Duke, Kate] [September, 2014]

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by Kate Duke

Kate Duke, author of Archaeologists Dig for Clues, is back with a new Let's-Read-and-Find-Out book on rainforests that is a perfect introduction for children in the primary grades and is filled with fascinating facts, illustrations, and diagrams.In the Rainforest is a lively look at the most vibrant ecosystem on our planet. The rainforest is home to millions of plant and animal species that depend on each other and rain to thrive. How much rain falls in a rainforest? How do scientists work in the treetops? What kind of plants are swimming pools for frogs and crabs? Read and find out!With colorful illustrations and fascinating diagrams from author-illustrator Kate Duke, In the Rainforest includes a Find Out More section with a Build a Rainforest Terrarium activity and web research prompts about rainforest exhibits across the country. A Stage 2 Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out, the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades and supports the Common Core Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Animals, Childrens, Environment

Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Duke was born in New York City on August 1, 1956. She had said that reading was a favorite pastime all through childhood, and in an interview for Something About the Author noted that Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet the Spy was a fictional character she modeled, right down to keeping tabs on the people in her neighborhood. “I think I owe Harriet my first conscious awareness of the act of writing as important and meaningful work,” she said.

She attended Duke University in the mid 1970s and also took art classes in New York City, which helped solidify her growing ambition to create picture books. Her first book, The Guinea Pig ABC (Dutton) was published in 1983 and received warm accolades for its humor and inventiveness. She followed up her debut with Guinea Pigs Far and Near (Dutton, 1984) and several other titles starring the popular critters. Duke went on to craft more than 20 picture books, writing and illustrating her own work, as well as providing illustrations for other authors including Joanna Cole and William Hooks. Duke married cartoonist Sidney Harris in 1985.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have heard about the rainforest in environmental campaigns, but what exactly IS a rainforest, and why are they important? This is an info-packed book will educate and entertain both kids and adults. It's hard to dismiss the rainforest as too far away and unimportant after reading this book.

The only complaint I have is that the final couple of pages deal with the destruction of the rainforest, but only mention that scientists are working hard to preserve it. This puts all of the responsibility on a vague group of people, without educating readers on things each of US can do to conserve these ecosystems. After all, a wide variety of consumer products originate on current (or deforested) rainforest land. Show your readers how to make better choices in their everyday lives, and you'll do a lot more good.

[Katalina Townsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rainforest is home to millions of plant and animal species.The inhabitants of the rainforest depend on each other, and they all depend on rain. How much rain falls in a rainforest? How do scientists work in the treetops? What kind of plants are swimming pools for frogs and crabs? Read and find out

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

so much information. great for both of us

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to visit the tropical rainforest? Well, be sure to bring along your bug repellent, waterproof backpack and notebook. Duke draws kids right into her informative book by having a two kids join a guide as they explore a tropical rainforest. Speech bubbles keep the tone fun and casual, while the main text is more traditional informative nonfiction.

Readers learn about what a tropical rainforest is like, both in terms of its ecology as well as the animals and plants that live there. Throughout, Duke helps readers compare tropical rainforests to forests in temperate climates. This book works well both as a read-aloud and as a book for young students to browse through themselves. The pictures, captions and dialog boxes are all very informative and easier to read because of their conversational tone.

Read more at Great Kid Books

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice nonfiction book about the rainforest (except for the "magic x-ray goggles" on page 24 - which felt a little out of place). I like how the main characters are a boy and a girl (and an adult). It is a very informative book - packed with information about animals, insects, ecosystem and plants of the rainforest. The information is laid out nicely and the reader can find all all kinds of interesting facts in the pages. The illustrations add a lot to the story/facts. There are resources at the back of the book which is a nice addition.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text: 5 stars
Illustrations: 5 stars

Nonfiction picture book about the rainforest ecosystem. Packed full of interesting information, but laid out effectively so that the information is easily absorbed and the pages do not seem crowded. Good comparisons to forests in temperate climates (which is what most readers will be familiar with). Discusses both plant and animal life, as well as general facts about the rainforest environment. Strong pictorial support for the text, and additional facts portrayed through the illustrations. Includes a list of museums/zoos that have a rainforest exhibit and instructions to make your own rainforest terrarium.

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great overall informational book for kids about rainforests. I can use this in my classroom by asking students to find the adaptations common in rainforest species. I liked the art and the way there were so many things to look at and find on each page.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primary readers will find lots of cool stuff about the rainforest in this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR 4.3

[Diny Hartiningtias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational, complete, and fun book. Great simple illustrations.

[Kristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid book with great information. Kept my 2nd grader intrigued throughout.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoria Press Curriculum in the lower grades (K-2 currently) has several titles from various levels of the Let's Read and Find Out Science series in the supplemental social studies and science book lists and lesson plans. It was through Memoria Press recommendation that I discovered the series and now we are hooked. Thus when HarperCollins started publishing new titles to add to this series I found myself very excited.

With bolded vocabulary, fun illustrations, factual pop outs fill these pages. While not every kid can jump on a plane to go adventure a rainforest, but this is like a field trip in a book.

Do you know what rainforests are used for? Do you know how they prosper? Here is a great place to find out!

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...

[Gloria Carrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this informational children's book because it not only gave me a lot of facts about the rainforest, it felt really fun to read because it felt more of a story of an adventure. The cover of the book even looks like if it was just a regular children's book, but it involves a lot of information that people exploring in rainforests can find useful.
It begins with this family going on a trip and it explains a lot of what not only they find in the forest, but what they are also finding useful. There is a lot of annotation that makes the information a lot more easier to understand and all the colors make the book more fun to read to kids.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, lots of information, nicely organized. What I liked just about the best are the side bar/text boxes that give size and weight comparisons to which kids can relate. That makes this a great book for math, as well as science and language arts!

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed look at the rainforest.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educational and enlightening!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Brittany]

I chose In the Rainforest by Kate Duke because it provides a lot of information in a fun way for younger readers. The text is given in a traditional narration format with bold vocabulary words. However, the illustrations are also full of information through drawings of science journal, captions, and diagrams that are informative but also fun to look at.
The story We’re Roaming in the Rainforest: An Amazon Adventure is the fiction twin text I selected. The rainforest animals are described through poetry and the author has chosen vivacious verbs which could lead to an additional lesson in grammar and writing. I would use this book to activate prior knowledge and introduce the topic (Camp, 2010). Students would get an opportunity to share their thoughts with partners and choose one thing to share with the whole group.
References
Camp, D. (2010). It takes two: Teaching with twin texts of fact and fiction. The Reading
Teacher, 53(5), 400-408.
Krebs, L. (2010). We’re roaming in the rainforest: An Amazon adventure. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot
Books.