Nature's Green Umbrella by Gail Gibbons, Gail Gibbons (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

"A scientifically accurate book which depicts the complex world of rain forests in easily understood text and sumptuous illustrations. The geography, climate and ecology of the rain forest are explained and the illustrations teem with the flora and fauna."—Children's Literature.

Children's Literature

A scientifically accurate book that depicts the complex world of rain forests in easily understood text and sumptuous illustrations. The geography, climate and ecology of the rain forest are carefully explained, and the illustrations teem with the flora and fauna. The book concludes with a discussion of the impact of man's activities on this fragile ecosystem.

Children's Literature

Gibbons, an award-winning author-illustrator, is an important name to remember in nonfiction for the young. She has an ability to make the most difficult subject approachable and understandable. Nature's Green Umbrella is about rain forests and describes everything from the tropical ecosystem to the threats to its survival.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-A colorful, informative look at tropical rain forests. Gibbons has drawn and labeled about 50 animals and numerous plants and trees on double-spread illustrations. Complementary text appears in the margins. Each spread is bordered by vines and flowers reminiscent of medieval manuscripts. The striking watercolors evoke the mood of the forests, while the text contains simple definitions for italicized scientific terms. Readers are drawn into the ecology of rain forests before mention is made of the danger of global warming and the extinction of flora and fauna due to humanity's destructive invasion. Methods for protecting the areas, such as creating selective cutting or extractive reserves, are noted. Lyn Stone's Rain Forests (Rourke, 1989) and Jenny Wood's Rain Forests (Gareth Stevens, 1991), written for slightly older children, have striking full-color photos and more text, but Gibbons's book is more inviting.-Kathleen McCabe, East Meadow Public Library, NY

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