Discover The Amazon

Front Cover:

Summary:

What if you were lost in the Amazon? Could you survive? Could you find your way out? From navigating through the jungle to finding shelter, Discover the Amazon: The World's Largest Rainforest will show kids ages 8 to 12 how they could make it out of the Amazon rainforest alive and well, using the natural world for all of their supplies. "

Try This" ideas can be done anywhere-you don't have to go to the rainforest-ranging from deciphering animal tracks to making a simple fishing spear, from building a basic gear raft to figuring out how much water you need each day. Kids will probably never get lost in the Amazon rainforest, but Discover the Amazon will teach them what it takes to survive there and find their way out. Along the way, they'll learn about the history and science of the rainforest, they'll discover the amazing diversity of plants and creatures who call the Amazon rainforest their home, and they'll realize just how vital the Amazon is to our planet's future.

Review:

CLEAR Review (SWON Libraries)—Created using the browns and greens associated with forests, "Discover the Amazon” is a thrilling book from front to back. The information is written in an easy conversational style that makes the book more personal for the reader and is easy to follow. Pages are broken up into several sections allowing for readers to read the information in any order they choose. Difficult words are defined within the flow of the book allowing reluctant readers to grasp more difficult concepts. The back of the book is filled with a strong glossary, index, bibliography and other items to allow for further research. Due to the attention grabbing format of the pages, the conversational flow of the text and the plethora of information contained within this text, "Discover the Amazon” is strongly recommended for purchase and use by classroom teachers, librarians, and parents. "Discover the Amazon” works well as both a recreational read and a reference source. Literary Merit: Very Good Characterization: Very Good Recommendation: Recommended

– School Library Journal, April 2009 Most books on the Amazon rely on spectacular photos of animals and plants to make an impact on readers. Berkenkamp’s introduction to the river basin incorporates maps, drawings, and photos in various shades of green and brown on recycled paper. The conversational style provides a “you are there” feeling, conveying information and anecdotes while stressing outdoor survival skills. Facts about tropical rainforests, the Amazon and its tributaries, plus various plants and animals are woven throughout the text. Chapters feature tips on exploring safely on land and water, finding food and drinking water, and surviving at night. Descriptions of how to choose insects for a meal or how to distinguish varieties of nocturnal caiman by their eyeshine will intrigue potential explorers because of their exotic topics. . .Many of the survival skills, such as crossing rivers or setting up shelter, could prove useful in other locations. Even readers who never travel to Amazonia will appreciate the region’s complexity and significance after perusing this book, which ends with suggestions for ways to slow its destruction. This volume should stimulate interest in this diverse and important region .

Eclectic Homeschool Magazine Online, February 2009 Although most of us will never visit the Amazon, its rainforests, or other ecospheres, Discover the Amazon allows us to imagine we will…. All the virtual tourist needs to know to find their way in the rainforest, find their way in water, find food, find water, spend the night in the Amazon, and stock up for their adventure are detailed in kid-friendly fashion. There are lots of try this suggestions sprinkled throughout the book….if you’re looking for a book that will stimulate your children’s interest in learning about the Amazon, this is a terrific find.

Endorsement:

"A useful and imaginative introduction to the world’s greatest ecosystem for teachers, parents and kids!" -Mark Plotkin, Ph.D. President, Amazon Conservation Team

Resources:

Books
About Rainforests and Amazonia
Albert, Toni. The Remarkable Rainforest: An Active-Learning Book for Kids. Trickle Creek Books, 2003.
George, Jean Craighead. One Day in the Tropical Rainforest. New York: Harper Trophy, 1995.
Knight, Tim. Journey into the Rainforest. Oxford University Press, 2002.
Montgomery, Sy. Encantado, Pink Dolphin of the Amazon River. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
Osborne, Will and Osborne, Mary. Rainforests (Magic Treehouse Research Guide). New York: Random House Books for Young Readers, 2001.
Pratt, Kristin Joy. A Walk in the Rainforest. Dawn Publication, 1992.
Ryan, Marla, and Elaine Pasco, Eds. The Jeff Corwin Experience: Into Wild Amazonia. Black Birch Press, 2004.
About Survival
Brown, Tom. Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children. Berkeley Publishing, 1989.
Gibbs, Lynn. What if? A Kid’s Guide to Surviving Just About Anything. Gingham Dog Press, 2002.
Llewellyn, Claire. Kid’s Survival Handbook. New York: Scholastic, 2002.
Logue, Victoria. Kids Outdoors: Skills and Knowledge for Outdoor Adventures. Ragged Mountain Press, 1996.
Whitefeather, Willy. Willy Whitefeather’s Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids. Roberts Rhinehart Publishers, 1997.

Television Shows
“Man Vs. Wild,” Discovery Channel
“Rick Mears Extreme Survival,” BBC
“Survivorman,” Discovery Channel

Websites
www.amazonteam.org
www.amazonia.org
www.amazon-indians.org
www.amazon-rainforest.org
www.mongabay.com
www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld.html
www.pbs.org/journeyintoamazonia
www.rainforestweb.org
www.rain-tree.com

About the Author:

Lauri Berkenkamp is the author of five books for kids. Writing under the pen name Maxine Anderson she has written Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself, which was excerpted in the New York Times Book Review and Christian Science Monitor, chosen as the #7 BookSense Children’s Pick for Summer 2006 and named Book of the Year by the Society for School Librarians International in 2006; Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself, which was excerpted in Boys’ Life magazine and called “a fascinating gem of a book” by the New York Times Book Review; Explore Spring and Explore Winter, which were chosen as Parents’ Choice Recommended Books for 2007, and Discover the Amazon, which will be released by Nomad Press in December 2008.

Lauri’s books have been praised for their interesting facts, fun and inventive activities, and clear writing. She takes joy in learning about the different subjects of her books and it shows in the excitement of her writing and creativity of her activities, which she has tackled and tested for fun, ease of use, and educational value. A mother of four children, Lauri has the added benefit of writing for her kids—they give her feedback and demonstrate what interests kids between ages 9 to 12.

About the Illustrator:

Blair D. Shedd was educated at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc. In 1999, he formed oneGemini Studios, where he now works as a freelance illustrator and writer. Since then he's worked with numerous clients, including Marvel Entertainment, Upper Deck Entertainment, Kellogg's Pop Tarts, the Rittenhouse Archives among many others, as well as taking on storyboarding and character concept chores for independent films and television. His work can also be found in many private collections across the United States, Canada, Central America, Europe, and Australia. Blair is currently writing and illustrating a comic book based on his Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized screenplay, Wayward Son. Blair resides in Vermont with his wife Sarah, son Devon, and brand-new daughter Madlyn. www.oneGemini.com

Activity Description:

Even if you don't have to build a shelter in the rainforest,learning how to tie some basic knots will always come in handy.

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