The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure

Gr 26Anna and Peter, a mother and son from Sweden, visit the Costa Rican rainforest called "El Bosque Eterno de los Niños" (the BEN) and learn about its unique plants and animals. As they hike to various parts of the forest, Peter is surprised to discover that fundraising that led to the BEN's establishment began 20 years ago through the efforts of a second-grade class in Sweden. One of the children was his mom. Despite the amount of information conveyed in the narrative and conversations, the story doesn't seem contrived. Small cartoons of the people appear at the bottom corners of the large, colorful illustrations of various animals and forest landscapes. The central pictures are big enough for group sharing. Older readers can find out more about the individual plants and animals in the paragraphs contained in sidebars. A two-page explanation of the origins of the Children's Eternal Rainforest and photos of the area appear after the main text. Those who want to know more about the BEN's ecology and origins can find lots of photos and information in Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's "Children Save the Rain Forest" (Dutton, 1996). Pratt-Serafini's book serves as a good introduction to the BEN itself and to children's conservation efforts."Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato" Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Never let anyone tell you that you can't change the world. . . . I feel so grateful that Rachel Crandell and Kristin Joy Pratt have finally told the story of El Bosque Eterno de los Ni??os, a testament to the power of children.