In this simply told and lushly illustrated picture book, a young child and adult companion walk through a rain forest, looking up into the soaring canopy overhead and down into streams and riverbeds far below their extension bridge, noticing all sorts of mammals, reptiles, and birds that call this ecosystem their home. The couple hear the calls of various creatures while the text fills in the details: who's awake and who's asleep, what various critters are eating, how mother animals are taking care of their babies, and who's hunting whom. The mixed-media illustrations are detailed and mirror the physical attributes and actions mentioned in the text. The couple wander through the verdant landscape throughout the day, eventually heading home just in time for a dinner of arroz con pollo (rice and chicken). As the sun sets and the lights come on at home, a new cast of nocturnal animals emerges, and different creatures prowl and slither through the rain forest. This appealing story offers an engaging and easy introduction to animal habitats.

In their fourth collaboration (beginning with Over and Under the Snow, rev. 1/12), Messner and Neal explore a rainforest (the appended author's note indicates Costa Rica). This book follows the previous entries' pattern, as here a young child and adult companion hike into the rainforest, noticing what's overhead ("in the trees, oropendolas gurgle in low-swinging nests") and below ("leaf-cutter ants march in a line, carrying bits of leaves and petals back to their nest"). From a vantage point on a high hanging bridge, the pair can see several layers of the rainforest at once. They stand "eye to eye with capuchin monkeys," peer down at the bank where "sleepy crocodiles bask in the sun," and look high in the branches to watch "a soggy mother sloth and her baby sleep" through a sudden rainstorm. Lush mixed-media illustrations in shades of teal and violet vary in perspective, seamlessly shifting from sweeping aerial views to close-ups of animals, insects, and plants. When "the blue sky grows dark," the pair heads home, where Abuelita has supper waiting. Capturing the mysterious and magical beauty of the tropical biome, the book is sure to encourage further rainforest investigation. An author's note and accessible back matter provide more information about the rainforest and its inhabitants. Emmie Stuart

A child-and-caregiver pair hike through the South American rainforest, observing animals in their natural habitats.The "symphony of sound" up in the trees prompts the child narrator to ask what lives above. Tito answers that above them is "a whole hidden world" where monkeys, insects, and birds live. As they hike along the trail, each spread shows specific animals "up in the trees" and "down in the forest," doing what they do best. Oropendolas "gurgle in low-swinging nests"; a parrot snake hunts frogs on the trail. The child and Tito climb to a hanging bridge that crosses the river; beneath them, crocodiles bask in the sun and an emerald basilisk skims the water's surface while they walk "eye to eye with capuchin monkeys" swinging through branches. The afternoon brings rain and a snack of dried fruit. The evening brings new sounds to the forest as dark settles in and the child and Tito leave the last bridge, heading home, where Abuelita and a supper of arroz con pollo await. The colorful, matte illustrations alternate views of the ground, the sky, the river, and the treetops from various vantage points; close-ups and silhouettes of animals in action channel the mystery and magic of the natural world. Part outdoor adventure, part animal nonfiction book, this exciting blend will delight children interested in fact and fiction. Extensive endnotes offer more information about the animals. The only humans pictured are Tito and the narrator, both characters of color.Draws you right in. (author's note, further reading, sources) (Picture book. 4-9)

K-Gr 3 This engaging picture book centers on the rain forests of Central America and is narrated by a nameless child, who walks through the forest with an adult. The text provides an educational tour of the creatures that live in that ecosystem. The highlighted animals, including oropendolas, emerald basilisks, agoutis, and blue morpho butterflies, may be unfamiliar to young readers. Every page is an adventure and will have children wondering what they'll discover next. The long excursion ends at nightfall. The illustrations are rendered in shades of green, black, and mauve with a few bright blue, red, and yellow accents. The texture of mist and humidity mute some of the colors as the hikers climb steps, cross a bridge over the river, and marvel at the abundance of life. The narrator and her adult companion are drawn with tan skin and dark hair. Twenty animals that live in the forest canopy, the ground, and the river are listed in the back matter. Further reading suggestions and sources are also included. VERDICT Perfect for children who have an interest in the natural world.Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek P.L., WI