The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure Book

The Children's Eternal Rainforest in Costa Rica is a great place to hear howler monkeys, see algae-covered sloths, and discover that strangler figs make great hideouts! Join young Peter on a hike through this inspiring forest -- a rainforest that has been preserved forever by the efforts of children all over the world!

School Library Journal

Gr 2-6- Anna 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