Rain Forests

Information for students
Author: Osborne, Will & Osborne, Mary Pope Title: Magic Tree House Research Guide:
Rain Forests
Book Genre: Informational Publishing Info: Random House; 119 pp.

Summary: Rain Forests is a book children will enjoy reading, as well as learning about many rain forest species, such as Goliath Beetles, Army Ants, Tropical Pitcher Plants, and the People of the Rain Forest. Jack and Annie will guide you through your reading adventure with interesting facts, maps, diagrams, and pictures. The authors suggest additional books to read, websites to visit, and videos to watch about the rain forest. The reader will learn the answers to questions like: How much rain falls in the rain forest? What is the world’s heaviest insect? Let the learning begin!

Personal rating: ****

Rationale: excellent display of information; information is organized in a logical sequence; clear and interesting text; appropriate vocabulary; glossary; maps; reference aids; uncluttered visuals

Information for teachers
Reading level: 5.0 Interest level: 1st-6th

Thematic Areas: animals; rain forest; exploring;

Content Areas: science; mathematics; computers; art; language arts

Potential Problems or Difficulties: black and white pictures

Possible use in classroom: use in a science unit about the rain forest; do this unit near a field trip to the zoo; explore activities at www.randomhouse.com/magictreehouse during computer time; make a booklet of rain forest animal (draw or use picture clipping) with facts; experiment how long it would take for a sloth to move across the classroom (sloths can cross a living room in one hour); find products in the classroom/school that came originated from the rain forest; use various Magic Tree House Research Guide books for literature circles

Teachers can access activities to all Magic Tree House Research Guide books at http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/magicth/guides/researchguide.html