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Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests
A fascinating and accessible exploration of the nature of the world's rain forests offers clear and colorful illustrations and a concise text that shows how special these forests are and why they must be saved from destruction.
1 pages, Library Binding
First published March 1, 1994
3 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Gail Gibbons
231 books166 followersFrom gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2019
I think the book tries to do too much.
Love the illustrations of all sorts of "unusual" rain forest animals.
Just seems rather unfocused -- everything anyone might want to know about rain forests
* where the tropics are
* canopy/understory/emergents/floor
* transpiration and its effects outside the rain forest
* medicines from rain forests
* respectful co-existence w/ rain forest vs deforestation (losing animal & plant species and causing flooding)
* number of species in the rain forest vs normal forest.
Love the illustrations of all sorts of "unusual" rain forest animals.
Just seems rather unfocused -- everything anyone might want to know about rain forests
* where the tropics are
* canopy/understory/emergents/floor
* transpiration and its effects outside the rain forest
* medicines from rain forests
* respectful co-existence w/ rain forest vs deforestation (losing animal & plant species and causing flooding)
* number of species in the rain forest vs normal forest.
Read
June 12, 2020I read a lot of books about the rainforest for my rainforest research report.
October 14, 2008
Genre: Informational Picture Book
Audience: K-6
Topic: Tropical Rain Forests
Curricular Uses: Read aloud, independent reading
Reading Level: Transitional Readers
Illustrations: The illustrations for this book are good, but it would have been even better if there were photographs of rain forests. Pictures include text on them to further describe things found within the rain forest.
Additional Comments: I was not sure whether to mark this as appropriate for transitional or fluent readers. I chose transitional because most of the words are not too scientific. Everything is described with simple details, and only a few science words are difficult to pronounce.
This is a book that could be used during a unit in science. While it could be used in primary grades, it is probably more appropriate for upper elementary grades.
Audience: K-6
Topic: Tropical Rain Forests
Curricular Uses: Read aloud, independent reading
Reading Level: Transitional Readers
Illustrations: The illustrations for this book are good, but it would have been even better if there were photographs of rain forests. Pictures include text on them to further describe things found within the rain forest.
Additional Comments: I was not sure whether to mark this as appropriate for transitional or fluent readers. I chose transitional because most of the words are not too scientific. Everything is described with simple details, and only a few science words are difficult to pronounce.
This is a book that could be used during a unit in science. While it could be used in primary grades, it is probably more appropriate for upper elementary grades.
August 31, 2012
Grade: 3rd-5th. Topic: Rainforests, Ecosystems, Water Cycle.
An introductory book for a unit on the rainforest. Students can recreate parts of a rainforest, using puppets or illustrations. They can discuss how all of the parts work together in the water cycle to keep the rainforest alive. Identify animals and plants that live in the rainforest.
For upper grades, talk about deforestation and the destruction of the rainforest. Environmental responsibility.
An introductory book for a unit on the rainforest. Students can recreate parts of a rainforest, using puppets or illustrations. They can discuss how all of the parts work together in the water cycle to keep the rainforest alive. Identify animals and plants that live in the rainforest.
For upper grades, talk about deforestation and the destruction of the rainforest. Environmental responsibility.
August 2, 2015
Another great book by Gail Gibbons for elementary students. There is a lot of information...for whole group instruction in lower elementary it works well, but if independent work, upper elementary would probably be better. Good resource for rainforest unit!
June 21, 2012
This book would be great for an intro into rainforest concepts. The author talks about where the rainforest is, inhabitants of the rainforest etc.. I would definitely use it
May 15, 2021
You can never go wrong with a Gail Gibbons book! Perfect for younger elementary students, this is an informative picture book with wonderful illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews