Customer Reviews

Rain Forests (Magic Tree House Research Guide)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Our girls read this after a trip to the Amazon, and found lots that they recognized & enjoyed. The standard of information is rather higher than that in the Magic Tree house books, which is reasonable, given that they don't have to worry about plot & characters as well!

If your child enjoys Magic Tree house, and would like to know more about the Amazon this is fine, but I would also recommend One Small Square: Tropical Rainforests (by Donald Silver). We took this with us to the rainforest (see review) and found it to be excellent.

The world of informational books created by Will and Mary Osborne are designed for children in early elementary grades. They present such topics as the Amazon Rain Forest, knights, ninjas, saber tooth tigers, the Titanic, the dingos of Australia, and so on. There are 28 books in the series, as well as the more detailed nonfiction informational research guides. "Rain Forests: Research Guide" is one such book.

The story line is basic in each adventure book. Two children, Jack and Annie, 8 and 7 respectively, find a tree house in the woods one day, then discover dozens of books in it. But the most wondrous thing of all is pointing to a picture in a book, then magically being transported across space and sometimes time to go there.

On many occasions after the children return home, they research the topic. It's that additional effort that makes these Research guides unique. Not only do Jack and Annie (or Will and Mary) provide details of the topic at hand, but they also teach the research process. What better way to show children how information gets into books AND how that information can be included in a fantasy adventure. The Osbornes, along with their favorite illustrator, Sal Murdocca, are giants in my book.

As for "Rain Forests," information is presented in a logical order with illustrations depicting each explanation. The rain cycle, geographic placement, layers of the forest, specific plants, animals, and people tribes are covered. This particular guide ends with a suggestion for ways for children to help save the rain forests, disappearing at an alarming rate. Then the standard conclusion lists other resources to consult.

I'm aghast that two other reviewers on the product page find fault with "Rain Forests." One descries the lack of color in showing the vibrant life of the rain forest. Another finds fault with the Osbornes' statistical facts about the deforestation rate. As for color, the book is written from the viewpoint of Jack and Annie doing the research and presenting the information. They could have created a PowerPoint, but how would we see it? Remember, this is written for lower elementary (even though the product page lists ages 9-12), so the format matches the level. Besides, the Osbornes include other resources in the back of their book.

As for the deforestation rate, the Osbornes quote one baseball field per second disappears. I visited an exhibit of the rain forests at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. some years back. That statistic was several football fields--quite a bit larger and a dozen years ago. It was so staggering that I shudder every time I think about it.

Bottom line: the Osbornes have created a fantastic series of books, one adventure, one additional research to serve as an impetus to children that their education is an ongoing matter and they can enhance it through the magic of tree houses (books).

This is one of many books in the series and my daughter absolutely loves these books. As soon as she got it she couldn't put it down until she finished the book.

Good expository text. It is filled with rich information about the rainforest and it is explained in an easy way for second graders to comprehend. A must have for any rainforest thematic unit.

What a delightful experience you get with the Magic Tree House Books.
Go on a magic adventure with your kids and there imaginations.
Hands down winning by an easy victory for our Family!!!!!!!

My daughter loved the book, and all the service provided by amazon was perfect (We'r living in France)

Teachers should be advised to identify to students the possibility of environmental hyperbole in Chapter 7, "Saving the Rain Forests". Absence of scientific attribution to deforestation rates make it difficult to know whether the authors are using reliable scientific sources for their data or simply repeating hyperbole found in radical environmental materials. Scientific documentation used by Dr. Bjorn Lomborg in "The Skeptical Environmentalist" appears to be contrary to the deforestation issue information as portrayed by Will Osborne and Mary Pope Osborne. I cannot recommend the use of Chapter 7 in this book in elementary school classrooms.