Journey to the River Sea  •  Eva Ibbotson LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) In this excellent and right-minded novel, a spunky English schoolgirl finds adventure aplenty in the Brazilian Amazon -- no thanks to her boring, unimaginative cousins, who douse themselves in insect repellant and refuse to budge from indoors. Eva Ibbotson is well-known as an author of children's fantasy books, and a boundless energy also infuses this more realistic (set in 1910) novel. Ages 9-12. It's got great characters, a fantastic setup and plenty of drama, not to mention some fully realized descriptions of actual flora and fauna. (AMZ79, $6.99)
One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest  •  Jean Craighead George NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 66 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) The Newbery Medal-winning author of "Julie of the Wolves" goes south for this brief and gripping nonfiction portrait of the Amazon. It's a race against time, as Dr. Rivero and his young native guide save the rain forest from a lumber company. In the course of their search for a prize butterfly, they encounter sloths, army ants and birds -- all vividly described. A slim chapter book geared for children about age eight. (FST08, $4.99)
Rain Forest Revealed  •  DK Publishing EXPLORATION •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A colorful illustrated children's guide to the plant and animal life of tropical rainforests, featuring transparent pages that allow young readers to explore the subject from many angles. (NAT66, $12.99)
Usborne Flashcard Spanish  •  Jo Litchfield LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2004 •  FLEXI-BOUND  • 50 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A standard playing card-size deck of 50 nicely illustrated flashcards geared for younger children. Each card features a colorful illustration with the Spanish word on the reverse. Vocabulary includes numbers, colors, food, animals, and other basic vocabulary that will appeal to young children. (GEN203, $8.99)