Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme

Reviewed by Brooke James (age 4 ½) and Jen James (mom) for Reader Views (12/08) "Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme" is a colorful rhyming book that teaches children numbers 1-10 while also teaching them about animals from the rainforest. The rhyme is the same rhythm as "Over in the Meadow." Brooke says, "I like it. I like the mommy animals. I like the rhymes. I loved the finding animals' page!" Parent's comments: Brooke really enjoyed "Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme" by Marianne Berkes. The rhymes were fun as well as educational. The pictures were beautiful. Her favorite page was the hide-and-seek page with all of the rainforest animals from the book located on one page and you have to find them. After I read it to her the first time, she read it many times by herself. Reviewed by Cayden (age 4) and Max (age 2) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (8/08) "Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme" is part of the "A Simply Nature" series of books by Dawn Publications. In this one we explore different animals of the rainforest from marmosets, to poison dart frogs, to ocelots. Each page focuses on an animal and a number. In the back of the book there is a list of body movements to incorporate into the story as you are learning about the various animals. Cayden: "This is a counting book too! Cool! We must have to only count the babies otherwise there would be two and not just one." Cayden: "Look, the number is written in that leaf too!" Max: "Blue butterfly!" Cayden: "I have never heard of a leaf cutter ant before. I wonder if they cut the leaves with their mouths. They are real good at cutting though, look at that leaf!" Max: "Snakes - ssssssssssss!!" Cayden: "Those are boa snakes!" Cayden: "Those monkeys look funny!!" Cayden: "I liked this book! My favorite part was the game at the end with all of the animals and you have to try to find them. That part was real fun!" Max: "Play monkey!" Cayden: "I think Max's favorite part was when he got to act like a monkey!" Parent's comments: "Over in the Jungle" is an excellent book that taught my children a few new animals of the rainforest that they were not already familiar with. Cayden loves to count and counting was incorporated into each page which was definitely a hit with him. They both loved doing the different animal body motions that went along with the story. The "hide and seek" game at the end was a lot of fun for Cayden as he tried to find all 10 howler monkeys, all 9 sloths, etc. The illustrations in the book are very bright and eye-catching and are very useful in helping the children learn about the different animals. "Over the Jungle" by Marianne Berkes is a wonderful book that my children will want to read again and again!

Having worked professionally with children for many years, I've been privy to countless children's books. For the youngest children, I find routinely that vibrancy of imagery coupled with simplicity of the educational message is the best received. 'Over in the Jungle' is the best of both worlds. Plus it introduces a topic that is and will have more traction for the next generations: world climate/environment. I could see this becoming a regular staple in young children's reading collections.

Rhythm, rhyme, nature, and counting mean this book offers something in the content areas of language arts, music, science, and math. But there's more! Author Marianne Berkes made sure her young readers would also experience many movement possibilities. As a children's physical activity specialist (author: A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity and Free Time Create a Successful Child), I couldn't be more pleased with this inclusion! And if all that isn't reason enough to buy this book, Jeanette Canyon's incredible illustrations will help children fall in love with art.

Having collected all of Marianne Berkes books this is by far the best! We thought nothing could top her "Ocean" book but...this does! The wording is something the children do readily respond too! Mental pictures take over and the children become very animated in the telling of the story and take on the differnet animal sounds and postures. This book is a winner for all who take the time to introduce children to their world far removed from the everyday life. You can see their imaginations expanding as the story unfolds! The illustrations and colors by Jeanette Canyon draw the cildren to Marianne Berkes' books, like bees to honey.

What a fun and glorious time my students have had with this book. We own all the "Over in the Meadow" pattern books and I could not resist this one either. My students never tire of these books and this one was no exception. With each reading, there is a new discovery and my students can never decide which rainforest creature is their favorite. Not only is this book fiction, but the information at the back of the book has provided students with some interesting facts and was an asset in our study of the rainforest. The storybook has been inspirational as a model for our own rendition of this old and favorite poem and song.