The Forest in the Clouds

by Sneed B. Collard III, Michael Rothman (Illustrator)

In many parts of the world, within a few hundred miles of the equator, there exists a mysterious environment called the rain forest. High up in the mountains of these areas lies an even more mysterious environment--the tropical cloud forest. The Forest in the Clouds explores the enchanting world of the Monte Verde cloud forest in Costa Rica.

Discover the splendor and fragile beauty of a precarious ecosystem that receives up to 10 feet of rain and mist each year. Readers meet rare creatures unique to the cloud forest, home to over 300 different types of birds and countless insects. There are more than 500 species of butterflies alone. Learn about the many plants that thrive in the cloud forest, such as gardens of epiphytes, which are plants that grow on other plants. The Forest in the Clouds will amaze and inspire young readers as it plainly teaches children about the importance of this delicate ecosystem to the balance of the earth.

Michael Rothman vividly brings to life the plants and animals of the enchanting and ethereal cloud forest. This place, constantly in mist, is alive with color and light in his lush illustrations.

A glossary of terms is provided in the back of the book along with a guide to further reading, a few helpful web sites, and addresses kids can write to in order to get further information about saving the cloud forests.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

Sneed B. Collard III (see also "Sneed B. Collard") is a biologist, world traveler, speaker, and author of almost one hundred books for young people, including the 2024 Orbis Pictus Award winner, Border Crossings (Charlesbridge Publishing). His other recent science titles include Fire Birds; Hopping Ahead of Climate Change; Little Killers; Waiting for a Warbler; Beaver & Otter Get Along . . . Sort of; and the upcoming picture book, Like No Other. Collard holds science degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and U.C. Santa Barbara. He lives in Montana.

Reviews

[Molly]

This beautifully illustrated book does a good job of presenting scientific details at a level that upper elementary school students can understand. About 75% of each page is dedicated to the illustrations, with text on the remaining 25%. This balance between text and images makes the sometimes-advanced vocabulary more manageable for young readers, and Michael Rothman’s realistic painting style means that the illustrations are also a rich source of information. The text emphasizes how everything in the world is connected, explaining how pollution from farms and factories can make its way into the rainforest and harm the animals there. Collard shows that this is a serious problem, but also offers hope by highlighting the work people (including children) around the world have done to protect the rainforest. The book is two decades old, so some of the resources listed at the end are outdated. However, the information in the book itself remains valid--although they have continued to search, scientists still haven’t found a Golden Toad since the species became extinct 30 years ago, and these toads have become “a symbol of extinction and the amphibian biodiversity crisis” (Freedman, 2019).

Works Cited

Freedman, E. (2019, May 15). Thirty years after the last Golden Toad sighting, what have we learned? Rainforest Trust. https://www.rainforesttrust.org/thirt...

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about the Costa Rican cloud forest with my 5yo. The pictures are beautiful and detailed and the writing is engaging. It walks through a variety of birds, animals, insects, and plants and shares how they live and interact. The book takes a decidedly environmentalist turn in the last few pages, but we still found it to be interesting and engaging non-fiction.

[Kaitlyn Kluesner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about different types of forests. My really liked that the pictures had great detail. I also liked that there was a glossary in the back. This is very helpful for students so when they do not know a word, they can look it up, instead of just skipping it.

[Collin Duax]

I think this book was very informative. It shows a lot about all the cool animals you will find in the rain forest.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated introduction to life in the cloud forest.

[Lin Lin]

Excellent book about the rain forest in the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica.