The Umbrella

Carlos drops his umbrella in the rainforest while searching for animals with his class. The umbrella remains on the forest floor as Carlos climbs up into a fig tree to get a better view. Various rainforest creatures encounter the umbrella and make use of it in unexpected ways. The story follows both Carlos's adventure in the tree and the growing activity around his abandoned umbrella below. Brett's distinctive artistic style features detailed illustrations with side panels showing parallel scenes taking place simultaneously. The book showcases the wildlife and environment of the Costa Rican cloud forest through its artwork and storytelling. The story explores themes of perspective and the hidden wonders that exist just beyond our notice. Through parallel narratives, it demonstrates how different creatures experience and interact with the same object in their own unique ways.

Parents and teachers appreciate the detailed illustrations that let children spot different animals on each page. Multiple reviewers note how the parallel stories - one happening at the top of the umbrella and one below - keep kids engaged through repeated readings. Readers liked: - Cultural elements and Costa Rican wildlife authentically depicted - Interactive counting opportunities - Illustrations that reveal new details each time - Teaching opportunities about rainforest animals Readers disliked: - Text is minimal compared to illustrations - Some found the story too simple - A few mentioned the book feels short Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.18/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (430+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (25+ ratings) One teacher reviewer said "My students love finding the hidden animals and predicting what will happen next." Several parents noted the book sparked conversations about different ecosystems and animal habitats.

The Hat by Jan Brett A tale of winter clothing that comes to life follows a similar pattern of mischief and adventure with Brett's signature detailed illustrations.

The Mitten by Jan Brett Animals seeking warmth crowd into a lost mitten in this story with parallel narratives and intricate border illustrations.

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina A peddler's caps become the center of monkey business in this story of missing clothing and clever problem-solving.

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers A penguin's journey mirrors the determination and friendship themes found in The Umbrella through a lost-and-found narrative.

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey A child's discovery of natural wonders unfolds through detailed observations and encounters with wildlife.

🌴 Author Jan Brett traveled to Costa Rica to research the rainforest setting and animals featured in The Umbrella, spending time sketching wildlife and observing their behaviors. 🦥 The book serves as a companion piece to Brett's earlier work "The Mitten," following a similar story structure but set in a tropical climate instead of a snowy landscape. 🎨 The detailed border illustrations in the book contain preview panels showing what's about to happen next in the story, a signature artistic technique used by Jan Brett. 🌿 The umbrella in the story is made from a banana leaf, which is historically accurate as indigenous peoples of Costa Rica have used large leaves as natural umbrellas for centuries. 🦋 Each animal featured in the book—including the kinkajou, toucan, quetzal, monkey, tapir, and tree frog—can be found in Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest, making the story scientifically accurate.