Lifesize Rainforest
Synopsis
Lifesize Rainforest is a startlingly beautiful book about some of the weird and wonderful
creatures that live in the rainforest. From the smallest creatures, such as the blue poison
dart frogs to the largest mammals, such as the Malayan tapir, this book takes a close-up
look at an amazing variety of rainforest inhabitants. Each spread features one fantastic
animal, illustrated by a piece of dramatic photorealistic artwork. A paragraph of essential
information accompanies each illustrated animal. The last two spreads of the book give
more animal facts and information. Animals that are ‘under threat’ are highlighted in this
section. The final page alerts the reader to the need to protect these largely unseen
creatures from the dangers of rainforest destruction. There is also a list of the
organizations involved in working to protect and save the rainforest and its threatened
animal inhabitants.
Writing Style
This book is written in a clear, direct, non-fiction style. Each piece of photo-realistic
artwork is accompanied by a paragraph of interesting information about the behaviour of
the animal illustrated. Further factual information is set out in the concluding spreads.
Author Background
Anita Ganeri is an award-winning author of many children’s information books,
including the best-selling ‘Horrible Geography’ series. Her title Planet in Peril won the
Blue Peter Book Award for Best Book With Facts 2009.
Illustrator
Stuart Jackson-Carter, who illustrated this book, specializes in photo-realistic artworks
for nature and wildlife books. These artwork illustrations show scenes and perspectives
of rainforest creatures that would be difficult or impossible to capture with real
photography.
Editorial Comment
Lifesize Rainforest has been thoroughly researched by the author and editor. It has also
been checked for factual accuracy by the author, and by an expert consultant. Careful
research has ensured that the illustrations clearly promote understanding of the topics
covered.
Teacher Activities/Questions
• How many blue poison dart frogs can you see on pages 4 and 5? Where are the ponds
that the blue poison dart tadpoles inhabit? How did the tadpoles get there? Think of at
least three descriptive words (adjectives) you could use to describe these little frogs.
• Why do bee hummingbirds have such long, pointed bills? What is the name of the food
that bee hummingbirds like to eat? Why do you think these birds are called ‘humming’
birds? How big are a bee hummingbird’s eggs? You can find the answer to the last
question in the Animal Facts pages at the end of the book.
• Why do Philippine tarsiers have such large eyes? What do they like to eat? How can
they stop their food getting away, once they have caught it? What does the female tarsier
do with her young when she goes out hunting?
• What is the name of the largest butterfly in the world? Using the Animal Facts pages at
the end of the book, find out where these butterflies live, what they like to eat, and who
the person was that they are named after.
• Using other books or the Internet, find out about the life cycle of a butterfly. Draw a
diagram of the life cycle. What is the process called when these insects change from a
caterpillar to a butterfly?
• Which bird in this book likes to ‘show off’ and why?
• Which animals in this book look for their food or go hunting at night? Do you know the
name for creatures that spend most of the daytime asleep and most of the night time
awake? Find out.
• Imagine you are taking a walk through a rainforest late one evening. Write about your
walk, describing all the things you see and hear around you.
• Why do mandrills find it easy to follow one another? Using the Animal Facts pages at
the end of the book, find out in what way a mandrill is like a pet hamster.
• Which animal do you think is the longest animal in this book? Using the Animal Facts
pages at the end of the book, check to see if you gave the right answer.
• Which animal in this book would you most like to see? Draw your own picture of this
animal and write a few sentences about why you like this animal and find it interesting.
• What is the most interesting thing you found out about the Parson’s chameleon? Write
down your answer. Don’t forget to look in the Animal Facts pages at the end of the book
for extra information.
• Using the Animal Facts pages at the end of the book, make a list of the countries where
you can find rainforests and rainforest animals. Then look in an atlas or on the Internet at
a map of the world. See if you can find exactly where these rainforests are located. What
do you notice about the location of these rainforests?
• Which animals in this book have skin that helps them to blend into their surroundings?
What is this feature called? How does it help them to catch their food?
• Make a list of all the animals in this book that are plant eaters (herbivores), meat eaters
(carnivores), or that eat both plants and animals (omnivores).
• Make up a True/False quiz about the animals in this book that you can ask your friends.
For example: – The golden crowned flying fox likes to eat cherries: True or false? The
green anaconda has its eyes and nostrils on the top of its head: True or false?
• Using the Animal Facts pages at the end of this book, make a list of all the animals that
are under threat. What does ‘under threat’ mean? What is happening in the rainforests
that is making life difficult for the animals that live there? Write down your answers to
the last questions. Discuss with a friend or the class what you think we could do about
this.