Jungle (DK Eyewitness Books) [Library Binding]

Theresa Greenaway (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: DK Eyewitness Books

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to some of the most extraordinary habitats on Earth. Superb color photographs offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the remarkable and colorful plants, animals and insects of the world's jungles. See the beautiful but poisonous passionflower, the rare golden lion tamarin, a Heckel chew stick from Nigeria, the red howler monkey howling at dawn and a kangaroo climbing a tree. Learn how paper wasps make their nest, how a siamang moves, how wax is taken from the wax palm, how geckos "fly" and how pitcher plants trap insects. Discover what red lemurs eat, how poison is taken from a poison dart frog, why bowerbirds build bowers, why canopy leaves have drip tips, where gorillas live and why chameleons change color, and much, much more!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Feeling bored with your day-to-day environment? A journey through a tropical rain forest could be the perfect "pick-me-up." And thanks to Jungle, you can visit the life-teeming tropics without ever leaving the comforts and conveniences of your own home.

In Jungle, all manner of flora and fauna are explored--from the treetops to the forest floor--in Central American, South American, African, Tropical Asian, and Australasian rain forests. Vivid photographs with intriguing captions introduce readers to exotic places and creatures they've likely never heard of before. Meet, for example, the harpy eagle, the pygmy anteater, the shovel-nosed catfish, the spear-nosed bat, and the gaboon viper. Learn about the natural medicinal powers of many jungle plants. Discover the various foods, such as ginger, cocoa, sweet potato, and pineapple, which are sold around the world but have their origins in the rain forest. Topics covered include What Is a Rain Forest?, In the Water, Climbers, Seed Dispersal, Dusk to Dawn, Hidden Dangers, Nature's Architects, Medicines, Hunters and Killers, Disguise and Warning, Tricks and Traps, Jungle Produce, and Under Threat.

The text is factual but never dry; thorough without being too much to swallow. Kids will be fascinated by the animals and plants featured within the glossy, beautifully-designed pages, and adults may be tempted to wrestle the book from the hands of their children--just to get a closer look. Another winner in Knopf's excellent and informative Eyewitness Books series, Jungle reveals that if indeed it is a jungle out there, then "out there" is a pretty cool place to be. (Ages 8 and older)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

...a mini museum between the covers of a book. [Eyewitness series] -- The New York Times

These books' striking visual impact will draw in even the most casual readers. [Eyewitness series] --School Library Journal --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding: 72 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (August 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756606934
• ISBN-13: 978-0756606930
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,630,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good starting point for young readers to learn about jungles!, December 2, 2008

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jungle (Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

Eyewitness Books is a series of volumes aimed at young readers. As such, they provide a wonderful educational and learning opportunity for this age group. This volume is no different, providing a lively introduction to jungles.

The first segment, answering the question "What is a rain forest," provides basic background. The prose notes that rainforests are complex and old ecosystems, with a dazzling array of plant and animal life. Page 7 notes that rain forests come in several "stories"--"at the top," with birds and some monkeys, "forest canopy" with a different set of life, and then the "forest floor," where we would find many plants, insects, mammals, and so on. The text goes on to note that there are a variety of tropical forests--from mountains to swamps to lowland rain forest and so on. These two introductory sections provide useful context for the young reader.

Thereafter, section after section (normally about two pages each) addresses a large set of issues, from seed dispersal of plants to Central American jungles to African jungles to forest apes to Asian and Australasian forests. To illustrate in more detail, let's consider a couple subjects in a bit more detail. One section is entitled "Explorers." Here, we are introduced to jungle explorers such as: William Bligh (Yes, Captain Bligh), who was commissioned to bring breadfruit tress from jungles back to England; Alexander von Humboldt, who explored Venezuela; Henry Bates, who explored Brazilian rain forests. Just a snippet for each, but enough to inform young readers of the human face of exploration.

Another segment focuses on "Tricks and Traps." The focus here is on "predatory plants," some of which have evolved to become carnivores, feeding off one sort or another of life, from insects on to small mammals and birds.

All in all, another valuable entry in the series. For young readers interested in tropical rain forests, this is a fine introduction.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Cool!, January 30, 2008

By 

Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jungle (DK Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

I am a huge fan of Eyewitness books so this one is no different, it's great! I liked the way it covered the plants and animals in the forest and how people have benefited from them. It is amazing that so many life forms survive in one concentrated area. The book is very good at discussing rain forests all over the world and providing us with a glimpse where people in mass numbers couldn't possibly be welcome. I loved the book and my students will too.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just right for an eight-year old inquisitive boy, August 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Jungle (Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

This book was exactly right for an eight year old boy who is VERY interested in rainforests. In fact, there is even a large picture of a bluc and yellow macaw on one page, and that is (at least at the time he got the gift)his FAVORITE rain forest animal.