Jungle Rescue: Saving the New World Tropical Rain Forests

In order to avoid a global ecological crisis, the alarming destruction of the tropical rain forests of Central and South America must be reversed.

Grade 5-7-- After reading this book, students should come away with a good understanding of what a rain forest is and of the deleterious effect of deforestation on the jungle environment and the animal life that normally inhabits it. A thorough description of the ecology of a tropical rain forest is given with clear explanations of unfamiliar terms. Rescue efforts being made, such as international organizations' lobbying for laws to protect habitats and animals are examined as is Belize's efforts to establish rain forest reserves (Programme Belize). Addresses for organizations seeking to preserve rain forests are included and suggestions are given for becoming involved in the conservation of these natural resources. The book is unfortunately visually disappointing. The poorly reproduced black-and-white and stock full-color photographs do little to capture the drama or scope of the situation. Numerous books have been published recently including Martin Banks's Conserving Rain Forests (Steck-Vaughn) and Elaine Landau's Tropical Rain Forests around the World (Watts, both 1990); they cover essentially the same information equally well and are more attractive. Nonetheless, this is an informative introduction to a popular topic.
- Cynthia Sturgis, Ledding Lib . , Milwaukee, OR
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Pedestrian, redundant writing and fuzzy focus undermine this effort from its first chapter (``This book is about lowland tropical moist forests...They grow in the tropics at low altitudes, as opposed to mountaintops, and are damp'') to its concluding plea for conservation (``Like a watchful lifeguard, we need to be aware that the rain forests are in trouble and heed their urgent cries for help''). There is a fair amount of information here, and some excellent recommendations, but this important topic deserves better organization and editing. Most of the photos are small and dark. A good book about efforts to save the rain forests is still urgently needed; meanwhile, this helps fill the gap. Glossary; further reading; list of organizations; index. (Nonfiction. 10-14) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.