The Rainforest Grew All Around
by Susan K Mitchell

The Rainforest Grew All Around

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 “The Green Grass Grew All Around." 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 “For Creative Minds" educational section.

This non-fiction picture book with a cuddle factor and rhyming text includes a 3-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 23-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. The Rainforest Grew All Around is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension. Tap animals and other things that make noise to hear their sounds.

Author: Susan K. Mitchell

Susan is a children's author with many hats in her collection: author, mom, wife, pre-school teacher, and Spanish teacher. Susan loves creating a silly world of words for kids. The idea of Kersplatypus quite literally came from a word she made up when her youngest daughter fell down one day. Surrounded by kids all day, every day, she has no shortage of story ideas. Susan is also the author of two other picture books: The Rainforest Grew All Around and Stone Pizza. She has also written more than fourteen non-fiction chapter books for older readers on topics ranging from entertainment. to architecture, to animals. Susan, her husband, and two wonderful daughters live outside of Houston with their dog and two crazy cats.

Illustrator: Connie McLennan

Award-winning illustrator Connie spent years as an advertising illustrator before venturing into the world of children's picture books. Before writing and illustrating The Forest in the Trees, she also illustrated Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls; The Rainforest Grew All Around; River Beds: Sleeping in the World's Rivers; Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean; and Octavia and her Purple Ink Cloud for Arbordale Publishing. A fine artist as well, Connie is married with one grown son and lives in northern California.

Book Details:

  • Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
  • Format: Paperback
  • Print length: 32 pages
  • Dimensions: 21.59 x 0.64 x 24.77 cm
  • Reading age: 5-8 years old
  • Publication date: June 2010
  • ISBN: 9780977742387

Read alongside these topics:

Can The Rainforest Grew All Around book be used with Rainforest Habitat lessons?

Yes, The Rainforest Grew All Around can effectively be used with lessons about rainforest habitats. The book is designed to engage children in learning about the rainforest ecosystem through its narrative and activities.

Key Points for Using the Book in Lessons

  • Educational Activities: The book includes various activities in the back that are specifically tailored to teach kids about rainforest habitats, such as identifying animals and plants unique to this environment.
  • Curriculum Integration: Educators have successfully used this book in classrooms to inspire students to research and write about different habitats, making it a versatile resource for teaching about ecosystems.
  • Supporting Materials: The extensive back matter provides additional resources for teachers, including questions and activities that reinforce learning objectives related to rainforest habitats.

In summary, The Rainforest Grew All Around not only complements rainforest habitat lessons but also enhances them with engaging content and supportive educational materials.

Author: Susan K. Mitchell

What are the primary animals living in rain forests?

Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, hosting a vast array of animal species. Mammals such as monkeys, including howler monkeys and spider monkeys, are commonly associated with rainforests. Sloths, known for their slow movements, are well adapted to life in the trees, while jaguars, as apex predators, play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance. Tapirs, large herbivorous mammals, are often found near water sources, and kinkajous, nocturnal and arboreal creatures closely related to raccoons, primarily eat fruit. Gorillas, found in African rainforests, are one of the largest primates.

Birds are also a significant part of rainforest life, with toucans known for their large, colorful bills and macaws recognized for their intelligence and social behavior. Harpy eagles, one of the largest and most powerful eagles, hunt small mammals and birds. Reptiles and amphibians, such as poison dart frogs, known for their toxic skin, boa constrictors, large snakes that can be found coiled around branches or on the forest floor, and emerald tree boas, a striking green snake that resides in the trees, are also prevalent in rainforests.

Invertebrates, particularly insects, make up a significant portion of rainforest biodiversity. It is estimated that there are millions of insect species, many of which are still undescribed. Common examples include various species of ants, butterflies, and beetles. Rainforests support a rich tapestry of life, with approximately 50% of the world's terrestrial species residing within them. This biodiversity is critical not only for maintaining ecological balance but also for potential discoveries in medicine and science.

Discover Hands-On Education