Best Rainforest Books for Kids: Picture Books, Nonfiction, and Chapter Books
By: Knowledge Crates
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Sloths and tree frogs and parrots, oh my! š¦„šøš¦ The rainforest is one of the most vibrant biomes to explore with your kids, and a favorite unit study amongst homeschoolers. š¦
Today we're sharing our picks for kids books about the rainforest. We've broken the list into four main categories:
Rainforest Picture Books for Preschoolers
Rainforest Picture Books for Elementary School Kids
Rainforest Nonfiction Books
Rainforest Chapter Books
Keep reading to see our favorite rainforest books to use in your homeschool, as well as a peek inside. (Don't you LOVE a peek inside books before you order or request them?!)
All of these books (and more!) are listed on our FREE Explore the Rainforest Library Booklist, which you can access two ways:Ā
Let's take a look at these rainforest picture books for preschool!
Discover the animals and plants that live in and around a kapok tree, from the colorful parrots in the canopy to the sleek jaguar on the forest floor. This engaging non-fiction title will stimulate a love of the natural world as the beauty of the rain forest is revealed through the bold and colorful artwork, and clever "see-through" pages.
-from Amazon
From Elizabeth: We have a bunch of these books and my kids LOVE them! You shine a flashlight behind the pages to make hidden images appear. So cool!
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
A walk through the Costa Rican cloud forest provides a wonderfully lush setting for Jan Brett's beloved animal illustrations. When Carlos drops his umbrella to climb a tree for a better view of the animals, they all cram into the banana-leaf umbrella as it floats by--from the little tree frog to the baby tapir to the big jaguar and more. It gets so crowded in the umbrella that there isn't even enough room for a little hummingbird! So over the umbrella tumbles, everyone falls out, and poor Carlos comes back wondering why he didn't see any animals all day.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Three children embark on a day-long trek through the Amazon, discovering all sorts of rainforest creatures in their natural habitats. The charming, rhyming text highlights an adjective for each creature.Ā The story is complemented by educational endnotes about the creatures in the story and the peoples of the rainforest.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
A heartfelt, visually stunning picture book from Caldecott Honor and Robert F. Sibert Medal winner Juana Martinez-NealĀ illuminates a young girlās day of play and adventure in the lush rain forest of Peru. Zoniaās home is the Amazon rain forest, where it is always green and full of life. Every morning, the rain forest calls to Zonia, and every morning, she answers. She visits the sloth family, greets the giant anteater, and runs with the speedy jaguar. But one morning, the rain forest calls to her in a troubled voice. How will Zonia answer?
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Rainforest Picture Books for Elementary School Kids
Let's take a look at these rainforest picture books for elementary school kids!
Award-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal take readers on a thrilling tour of one of the most diverse ecosystems on planet earth: the rainforests of Central America.
Discover the wonder that lies hidden among the roots, above the winding rivers, and under the emerald leaves of the rainforest in this glorious nature book for children and adults alike. Perfect for anyone who can't get enough of the rainforest and all the animals living in it.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Lynne Cherry journeyed deep into the rain forests of Brazil to write and illustrate this gorgeous picture book about a man who exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. While he sleeps, the forestās residents, including a child from the Yanomamo tribe, whisper in his ear about the importance of trees and how "all living thingsĀ depend on one another" . . . and it works.
Cherryās lovingly rendered colored pencil and watercolor drawings of all the "wondrous and rare animals" evoke the lush rain forests. Features stunning world maps bordered by detailed illustrations of fascinating rainforest creatures.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song āThe Green Grass Grew All Around.ā The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page āFor Creative Mindsā educational section.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Deep in the forest, in the warm-wet green, one almendro tree grows, stretching its branches toward the sunāin and under those branches, all sustained by one tree, thousands of rainforest creatures are living.Ā
Count each one as life multiplies again and again in this book about the rainforest's abundant beauty, and the wonderful multiplicity of life.
Let's take a look at these rainforest nonfiction books for kids.
Bright, realistic illustrations of a busy Amazon rainforest depict a plethora of creaturesāall drawn at life size!āgoing about their daily lives.
A two-page key reveals how all the illustrated spreads fit together into one huge panorama showcasing all four layers of an Amazonian rainforest. Readers can retrace their steps and follow the journey, from the forest floor to the heights of the canopy, revisiting all the unique creatures along the way.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Read and find out about rainforests in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. With colorful illustrations and fascinating diagrams from author-illustrator Kate Duke, In the Rainforest is a lively look at the most vibrant ecosystem on our planet. This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Whether in the classroom or the home, kids enjoy exploring the colorful detailed drawings of animals and plants, all clearly labeled. Through colorful illustrations and interesting text, this book discusses the climate, plants, and animals that make up a tropical rain forest.
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Embark on an amazing journey in this delightful nature book.
Explore beautifully detailed illustrations and fun facts about rainforests
Discover wonderful plants and animals and why rainforests are important to the world we live in
Find out why rainforests need protecting and what you can do to help
Let's take a look at these rainforestĀ chapter books! They range in level from younger elementary through middle school, so the peeks inside should be especially helpful in this section.
Ring and Asia Wilde's life is anything but ordinary. Some of their closest friends are endangered monkeys and rare birds. Instead of attending middle school, they accompany their parents (scientists who work to save endangered species) on adventures around the world. They spend more time climbing trees, tracking animal prints, and taking on three-hundred-pound anacondas than they do filling out worksheets. But a research trip to the Amazon rainforest turns into a dangerous mystery when their mother goes missing. Who kidnapped Dr. Jane Wilde, and why? Ring and Asia have the skills to survive the jungle--but do they have what it takes to rescue their mom?
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
In this fact-stuffed childrenās science book, we follow rainforest expert Ollie on an exciting mission to rescue a lost baby orangutan in the steamy rainforest of Borneo. Accompanied by engineering expert Kiki, they set out in a glider to search for the friendly ape. Along the way, they encounter greedy plantation owners who are plotting to destroy the forest to expand a palm oil plantation! They also learn about the threat that endangered animals and plants face due to deforestation. Kids will love turning the pages to find out if the Secret Explorers manage to succeed in their mission!
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Vampire bats and killer ants? That's what Jack and Annie are about to run into whenĀ the Magic Tree House whisks them away to the Amazon River. It's not long before they get hopelessly lost. Will they be able to find their way back to the tree house? Or are Jack and Annie stuck forever in the rain forest?
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
Lea Clark is all set for an animal-discovery adventure! She's never been to a rainforest before, and her mind is filled with exciting thoughts about the animals she'll get to see and the pictures she'll get to take deep in the jungle. During a hike with her brother through the Amazon rainforest, they discover a baby sloth that is badly injured. Lea quickly decides she must do all she can to help the little sloth survive. But as she learns more, she wonders? Is that the right thing to do?
-from Amazon
See inside this rainforest book below! ā¤µļø
We hope this list is helpful as you plan out your rainforest unit study for your homeschool. Now ... time to head to the library! š
Elizabeth is a former public school teacher turned homeschool mom. She's been homeschooling for six years with her kiddos who are currently in kindergarten and third grade. At Knowledge Crates, Elizabeth develops the elementary unit studies and test-runs activities with her kids.
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There are so many good activities in this unit that can be done anytime of the year. Weāre excited to try some new materials we havenāt used before. Thanks again Knowledge Crate!
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Great mix of items
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