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Looking Closely in the Rain Forest
Look closely. Look very closely. Is it ? chestnuts? Sea coral? Just turn the page and, lo and behold, it's a zebra tarantula. Colorful wonders await in the rain forest, including a red-eyed tree frog, a moth orchid and many more. Children will learn about a variety of animals and plants in this interactive book that encourages imagination and instills a respect for the natural environment.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2010
About the author
Frank Serafini
32 books102 followersDr. Frank Serafini is an author, illustrator, photographer, educator, musician, and a Professor of Literacy Education and Children’s Literature at Arizona State University.
Frank has published seven books with Heinemann, including: The Reading Workshop, Reading Aloud and Beyond, Lessons in Comprehension, and Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days and Classroom Reading Assessments which will be available in 2010. In addition, Frank has published Reading the Visual (2014) and Beyond the Visual (2022) with Teachers College Press.
In 2008, Frank began writing and illustrating a series of non-fiction picturebooks focusing on nature with Kids Can Press. The Looking Closely series contains books about the desert, garden, pond, rainforest, shore and forest. In 2009, Looking Closely Along the Shore won an International Reading Association’s Teachers’ Choice Award, and Honorable Mention from the Society of School Librarians International.
A true “Renaissance Man,” Frank loves to travel, sing, play guitar, cook, draw, read, visit art galleries, and watch movies. His workshops are packed with important information and practical ideas, all delivered with a great sense of humor.
Frank has published seven books with Heinemann, including: The Reading Workshop, Reading Aloud and Beyond, Lessons in Comprehension, and Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days and Classroom Reading Assessments which will be available in 2010. In addition, Frank has published Reading the Visual (2014) and Beyond the Visual (2022) with Teachers College Press.
In 2008, Frank began writing and illustrating a series of non-fiction picturebooks focusing on nature with Kids Can Press. The Looking Closely series contains books about the desert, garden, pond, rainforest, shore and forest. In 2009, Looking Closely Along the Shore won an International Reading Association’s Teachers’ Choice Award, and Honorable Mention from the Society of School Librarians International.
A true “Renaissance Man,” Frank loves to travel, sing, play guitar, cook, draw, read, visit art galleries, and watch movies. His workshops are packed with important information and practical ideas, all delivered with a great sense of humor.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 19, 2017
Looking Closely in the Rain Forest by Serafini is an informational book that teaches about the creatures and life in the rain forest. It asks the audience to look closely at certain animals or plants that live in the rain forest. After introducing the living organism, Serafini discusses it and informs his audience about it. I enjoyed the book because I think it was very informative. Also, it kept the audience on their toes because it asked the audience to guess what the creature was from just a small portion of the picture. I think children would have fun reading it because it would feel like a game to them.
The font of the book added an important visual element to the book. The author emphasizes the more important parts of the book with the size and design of the font. For example, whenever the author tells the audience to “look very closely” at the picture, the font is larger and “closely” is slightly curved. Then when the author asks, “What do you see,” he makes the font smaller, in order to force the audience to actually look closer and harder at the book. Also, the author makes the font big and bold when he reveals what the animal or plant is. This draws attention to the important revealing.
The color of the background on the pages where the author inserts a zoomed-in picture of the animal or plant is an important visual element. On every page like this, the surrounding background is black. However, the circle with the zoomed photograph has color which draws attention. This plain black background around it allows the reader to focus on this photograph rather than get distracted by other designs or colors.
The setting of this book takes place in the rain forest. This is obviously an important part of the book because all of the creatures discussed in the book live in this environment. By showing all the animals and plants in this setting, the author creates a connection between the two, teaching the audience about life in the rain forest.
The tone of this book is excitement. The author seems to be enthusiastic about this topic and teaching it. For example, the curved design of the word “closely” creates an exciting tone because it’s different than most fonts we see. Also, the author asks many questions, one after another, when showing a new zoomed-in photograph. It creates a feeling that the author is eagerly waiting for the audience to look closely and guess what the creature is.
The font of the book added an important visual element to the book. The author emphasizes the more important parts of the book with the size and design of the font. For example, whenever the author tells the audience to “look very closely” at the picture, the font is larger and “closely” is slightly curved. Then when the author asks, “What do you see,” he makes the font smaller, in order to force the audience to actually look closer and harder at the book. Also, the author makes the font big and bold when he reveals what the animal or plant is. This draws attention to the important revealing.
The color of the background on the pages where the author inserts a zoomed-in picture of the animal or plant is an important visual element. On every page like this, the surrounding background is black. However, the circle with the zoomed photograph has color which draws attention. This plain black background around it allows the reader to focus on this photograph rather than get distracted by other designs or colors.
The setting of this book takes place in the rain forest. This is obviously an important part of the book because all of the creatures discussed in the book live in this environment. By showing all the animals and plants in this setting, the author creates a connection between the two, teaching the audience about life in the rain forest.
The tone of this book is excitement. The author seems to be enthusiastic about this topic and teaching it. For example, the curved design of the word “closely” creates an exciting tone because it’s different than most fonts we see. Also, the author asks many questions, one after another, when showing a new zoomed-in photograph. It creates a feeling that the author is eagerly waiting for the audience to look closely and guess what the creature is.
March 19, 2017
Looking Closely in the Rain Forest was written by Frank Serafini, in this series the author has many similar books with varying ecosystems. This series of books are informational children’s books which help bring information and facts to children and their families. This book focuses on the Rain Forest and what lies beneath the surface. Serafini keeps these interesting by having a page with a close-up photograph of what is going to be described and given facts about. On this page is includes questions making a reader make guesses as to what the upcoming image will be such as “Look very closely. What do you see? Sand dunes? Pussy Willow? What could it be?”, “It’s a squirrel Monkey”. When the full picture is shown there is a few interesting facts about what’s in the picture. I think this book is interesting for young readers because it keeps them engaged and wanted to know what’s on the next page. This book does a good job at keeping the reader engaged while not using to many “fluff” words and phrases. The author gets the reader intrigued right off the bat with the end pages, they’re a monochrome photo of what the book is about, in this case forest tress –it makes you wonder what else is beneath the trees? The author also uses the pages to his advantage, from showing a page with a tiny up-close picture that makes you wonder by following it with nearly a two-page full bleed page of the previous image but all blown up and with information to teach you what there is. I like this book because it makes it easy and fun to learn new facts of ecosystems.
September 12, 2021
Look very closely.
What do you see?
A flamingo?
Pink grapefruit?
What could it be? (page 5 with a close-up image of something on the following page)
It's a hibiscus. (p. 7 followed by a short, large print, kid-friendly expository text on this plant.)
Serafini nurtures children's fascination with the rain forest and the animals and plants that live in this habitat. His writing is straightforward and his photographs are up close, eliciting "ooohs and aahs" from children when you turn the page to discover which animal or plant Serafini has captured in a photo.
WISH - 1) This book was published in 2010. That probably explains why there is NO BACK MATTER. There is a lovely note from Serafini in small print on the copyright page about the power of photographs to help us "notice" what we might take for granted. 2) The photographs are from rain forests all over the world. This is not clear until you research where the animals or plants live and look at the details on the copyright page. Think students need to know this detail. NOT A DEAL BREAKER.
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH - I'd read aloud this text and then read aloud Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Stewart and Jenkins (2021). While Serafini focuses on multiple aspects of the rain forest in isolation of each other, Stewart and Jenkins focus on how fourteen different species of monkeys living in one rain forest co-habitate successfully - they create a bigger, fuller picture of the rain forest as a habitat, ecosystem. Take that one step further and read Rain Rain Rain Forest by Guiberson (2004, 2015) which is a narrative of life in the rain forest.
What do you see?
A flamingo?
Pink grapefruit?
What could it be? (page 5 with a close-up image of something on the following page)
It's a hibiscus. (p. 7 followed by a short, large print, kid-friendly expository text on this plant.)
Serafini nurtures children's fascination with the rain forest and the animals and plants that live in this habitat. His writing is straightforward and his photographs are up close, eliciting "ooohs and aahs" from children when you turn the page to discover which animal or plant Serafini has captured in a photo.
WISH - 1) This book was published in 2010. That probably explains why there is NO BACK MATTER. There is a lovely note from Serafini in small print on the copyright page about the power of photographs to help us "notice" what we might take for granted. 2) The photographs are from rain forests all over the world. This is not clear until you research where the animals or plants live and look at the details on the copyright page. Think students need to know this detail. NOT A DEAL BREAKER.
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH - I'd read aloud this text and then read aloud Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Stewart and Jenkins (2021). While Serafini focuses on multiple aspects of the rain forest in isolation of each other, Stewart and Jenkins focus on how fourteen different species of monkeys living in one rain forest co-habitate successfully - they create a bigger, fuller picture of the rain forest as a habitat, ecosystem. Take that one step further and read Rain Rain Rain Forest by Guiberson (2004, 2015) which is a narrative of life in the rain forest.
June 18, 2014
Twin Text: The Yellow Cab by Marcus Pfister copyright 2013.
Rationale: I chose The Yellow Cab as the twin text because both of the books describe the rain forest and are for very young student. The non-fiction selection lets the students guess what the object is and then gives a description of it on the next page. The Yellow cab tells a story about a cab in the rain forest and mentions some of the same object that are described in the non-fiction selection.
Text Structure: Question & Answer; description
Strategy application: I would use the webbing strategy with this twin text. I envision these books being used with young developing readers and writers, thus the teacher would read the books and most likely fill in the web with the ideas the students present. I would use the general topic of Rain Forests and have the large group fill in the web after the teacher has read both books.
Book Review citation: (2010, October 15). Booklist. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
Rationale: I chose The Yellow Cab as the twin text because both of the books describe the rain forest and are for very young student. The non-fiction selection lets the students guess what the object is and then gives a description of it on the next page. The Yellow cab tells a story about a cab in the rain forest and mentions some of the same object that are described in the non-fiction selection.
Text Structure: Question & Answer; description
Strategy application: I would use the webbing strategy with this twin text. I envision these books being used with young developing readers and writers, thus the teacher would read the books and most likely fill in the web with the ideas the students present. I would use the general topic of Rain Forests and have the large group fill in the web after the teacher has read both books.
Book Review citation: (2010, October 15). Booklist. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
September 4, 2018
It is a beautiful book for children and adults. It has a lot of information and facts about animals plants. it is like a microscope into the Rain Forests. As a future teacher, I think this book will help me a lot in my sciences lessons, it is easy to understand and read to little kids. also, the pictures in the book are beautiful and have a lot of details in them. The thing I like the most is the questions and the zoomed in picture that the book has before it gives the information about the animal or the plant is exciting!
January 4, 2023
A small, close-up picture accompanied by a rhyming question asks, "What could it be?" The next page reveals a plant or creature native to the rainforest. The photos are clear and beautiful; the text is simple and informative for young readers. Children loved trying to guess what it was, and enjoyed listening to the concise information paired with the large photographs. A+ for engaging curious pre-schoolers and sparking their imaginations!
November 20, 2019
4 stars copyright 2010 genre information. Theme beauty. Favorite part of the book was trying to guess what the picture was showing. I will use this book in my future classroom as a way for my students to take a break.
April 7, 2021
This book would be great to use in a science lesson because of how informational it is. It has beautiful photos of many different plants and animals. It has informational descriptions for each photo! This book may not be very entertaining for students but could be used with some sort of lesson.
February 19, 2019
Kindergarten and DK classes really enjoyed guessing what the pictures would be, and discussing this book.
November 23, 2021
An educational book for kids. My nieces would love it!
January 28, 2026
This is a fun addition to a rain forest unit. The close up pictures held the boys' interest.
Read
October 10, 2016This is a great informational book about the rain forest!
Read
April 25, 2014Looking closely in the rainforest by Frank Serafini is a non-fiction picture book about the rainforest. While still being a picture book, the author has turned it in to an informational text. The author himself has photographed things from the rainforest and has only shown a small close-up of the picture. This allows students to guess what the picture will be of. Once guesses are done, students can turn the page to find the whole photograph and a description of what the photograph represents. The photographs depict a large variety of plants and animals that live in rainforest ecosystems. Students will have a blast guessing the images and learning about the rainforest at the same time. I would use this book in my classroom as an independent reader kind of book. Students would be able to pick this book up off the shelf and read it to themselves or another classmate for fun. But, I would not use this book in any part of my lesson plans about the rainforest because I don’t feel like the book has a strong enough educational purpose behind it, it is more of a book for fun.
September 16, 2013
Grades:PreK - 2
Lexile® Measure:520L
Guided Reading Level:L
DRA Level:20 - 24
This book is very interactive. First it says, "look very closely. What do you see?" and it shows a close picture of something. When you turn the page, you can see the whole picture and read facts about the object in the picture. They have animals, flowers and trees that live in the rainforest. This book can be used when studying animal habitats, children can have fun making predictions too.
Lexile® Measure:520L
Guided Reading Level:L
DRA Level:20 - 24
This book is very interactive. First it says, "look very closely. What do you see?" and it shows a close picture of something. When you turn the page, you can see the whole picture and read facts about the object in the picture. They have animals, flowers and trees that live in the rainforest. This book can be used when studying animal habitats, children can have fun making predictions too.
September 21, 2013
A small, close-up picture accompanied by a rhyming question asks "What could it be?" The next page reveals a plant or creature native to the rainforest. The photos are clear and beautiful; the text is simple and informative for young readers. Children loved trying to guess what it was, and enjoyed listening to the brief information paired with the large photographs. A+ for engaging curious pre-schoolers and sparking their imaginations!
April 25, 2015
Getting kids to look, to really observe without judgment, is huge. This series helps by taking away the context. There's a lot of information inside, too, but it never feels overwhelming. These are some beautiful photos. Also a natural model for children's work. A must-have for all K-5 collections.
November 2, 2010
Genre: Information
Copyright: 2010
This book is intriguing. Wonderful colors, unique characters, and interesting facts. I think kids will have fun guessing the animal from the clues on the previous page.
Copyright: 2010
This book is intriguing. Wonderful colors, unique characters, and interesting facts. I think kids will have fun guessing the animal from the clues on the previous page.
October 18, 2013
I think how this book keeps children what the object is benefits them very well. This book keeps children very engaged and constantly wondering. This book seemingly builds suspense in a young children's book.
May 6, 2014
This was a great book to introduce to my students during our rain forest unit. The pages include a close up picture of a plant or animal found in the rain forest and followed by a page of explanation of the plant/animal. My students loved trying to guess what each close up picture was.
October 12, 2010
A series of close-up photographs give readers a glimpse of rain forest life followed by a full color photo and scientific information about each plant or animal.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews