Over and Under the Rainforest

Over and Under the Rainforest follows a child and guide hiking through a Central American rainforest ecosystem. The narrative tracks their observations of wildlife both in the canopy above and on the forest floor below. The book alternates between factual information about rainforest species and the story of the hike itself. Text and illustrations work together to showcase the connections between animals and their habitats at different vertical levels of the forest. Detailed watercolor art by Christopher Silas Neal complements Messner's spare, precise text. The book includes additional natural history notes and a glossary of featured species. This science picture book demonstrates the complexity of forest ecosystems while capturing the wonder of discovery in nature. The parallel storytelling creates an accessible entry point for understanding rainforest biodiversity and environmental interconnections.

Readers highlight the book's detailed illustrations of rainforest animals and plants, particularly appreciating Christopher Silas Neal's layered artwork showing both above and below-ground perspectives. Parents and teachers note its effectiveness for teaching ecological concepts to ages 5-8. Liked: - Clear, poetic descriptions of rainforest creatures - Scientific accuracy while remaining accessible - End notes providing additional animal facts - Spanish words integrated naturally into text Disliked: - Some found the text rhythm inconsistent - A few noted it's too complex for preschoolers - Limited storyline compared to other books in series Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (270 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (164 ratings) Multiple reviewers praised its use in classroom units on habitats and rainforests. One teacher wrote: "My first graders were fascinated by the underground views and kept requesting to read it again." Several parents mentioned it sparked further interest in rainforest conservation among their children.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner A child and adult explore the hidden world of creatures living beneath winter snow.

Trout Are Made of Trees by April Pulley Sayre The interconnections between stream creatures reveal how leaves become food for fish through a forest food chain.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner A grandmother and child discover the life cycles occurring above and below ground throughout the growing seasons.

In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming The life cycles of pond creatures unfold through the changing seasons in a wetland habitat.

On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen The ripple effects of ducks landing on a pond expose the connections between water creatures and their environment.

🌴 Kate Messner wrote this book after exploring Costa Rica's rainforests firsthand, observing wildlife and working with naturalist guides 🦋 The book's illustrator, Christopher Silas Neal, used a limited color palette dominated by greens and blues to capture the layered feeling of being inside a rainforest 🌿 Rainforest canopies can be up to 130 feet high - the equivalent of a 13-story building 🐸 The red-eyed tree frog, featured in the book, can turn its bright red eyes white while sleeping to blend in with its surroundings 🦥 Sloths, which appear in the story, move so slowly that algae grows on their fur, helping them camouflage themselves in the rainforest canopy