The Umbrella

Information for students
Author: Jan Brett Title: The Umbrella
Book Genre: Fantasy (Animal) Publishing Info: Scholastic Inc., 30 pp.

Summary: A little boy named Carlos ventures out with his umbrella into a nearby rainforest hoping to spot lots of exotic animals. However, as he climbs a fig tree to get a better look, he drops his umbrella, missing all of the action on the ground below as, one by one, the animals he came to the forest to see jump into the umbrella and even take a ride downstream, talking to each other as they go.




Personal rating: (**** Great!, *** Good, ** Ok, * A disappointment) ****

Rationale: Well-written, good character development, and beautiful illustrations.

Information for teachers
Reading level: 3.7 Interest level: K-2

Thematic Areas: Animals; nature; culture.

Content Areas: Geography; science (nature); Spanish.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: For example, print size, length, sophisticated vocabulary, harsh view of life, slow moving, swearing, explicit sexual overtones, gory
Some difficult names and phrases for students unfamiliar with Spanish.
Possible use in classroom: Use as a beginning lesson on a Spanish or English as a Second Language unit; use to preface a lesson about the importance of rainforests and the animals who depend on them.