Up a rainforest tree

Gr 3-5‘Telford and Theodorou organize their material in the form of a journey. The trek through a huge African termite mound offers fascinating glimpses into an enclosed world of an insect society. A combination of drawings and full-color photographs helps explain how the colony raises food, tends the queen, and defends its home. Small inset maps help orient readers to the section of the mound where the activities being described occur. The authors use a similar "you are there" approach to explore the layers of the Amazon rainforest. While their explanation of the forest structure is clear, the small photos can't compare to those in other recent works such as Jonathan Grupper's Destination: Rainforest (National Geographic, 1997). Librarians should evaluate their current rainforest holdings to decide if more material for reports is needed by students who have little or no knowledge of the subject. Through a Termite City holds more general appeal.‘Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Acting as field guides (""You are about to go on an amazing journey""), each somewhat choppy revised text introduces the featured habitat while maps, photographs, and drawings on crowded pages detail the plant and animal life. A ""Journey Map"" sets the stage, then double-page spreads offer a brief explanation on the left and a ""notebook"" feature documenting the discoveries on the right. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Amazing Journeys titles: Down a River, Inside a Coral Reef, Up a Rainforest Tree, and To the Depths of the Ocean.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.