Today I’m so happy to introduce Jakki of Barefoot in Belfast, a Barefoot Books ambassador, and a personal friend. We met when our babies were young when we attended the same La Leche League group. My Tristan is not a baby anymore I must say, as yesterday was his 6th birthday – how time flies! I hadn’t seen Jakki for a while so I was very happy to hear from her again. She’s chosen ‘We’re Roaming in the Rainforest: An Amazon Adventure’ by Laurie Krebs and Anne Wilson for us to review today. We received a copy of this book in exchange for our honest opinions.
I have been so happy with Jakki’s choice of We’re Roaming in the Rainforest for us. We’ve previously learned a little about Peru, its people and food, and this book has helped us to widen our understanding of the geography, climate and people of South America.
The illustrations by Anne Wilson are bright and colourful and completely fill the pages. You can feel closeness of the rainforest around you. The pages are busy and there is a lot to see with little bits hidden in here and there.
We’re Roaming in the Rainforest is about three multicultural children who spend a day from sunrise to sunset roaming the rainforest and discovering it’s interesting animals and the noises they make.
The children are in the background of each page; small and hidden. It makes the feeling of the immense rainforest that much greater. As you turn each page you’ll be introduced to a new creature with the rhyme of Laurie Krebs.
“Snooze” yawn the sloths,
all ready to doze.
“We’ll nap in the trees
as we cling by our toes”
While reading this book you’ll visit 14 animals ranging from geckos to poison dart frogs to pink river dolphins. At the end of the book there are an additional nine pages with more information on each of the creatures mentioned in the book. There’s a map to show where the Amazon Rainforest is located and more information about it.
There are two pages dedicated to the Peoples of the Amazon Rainforest and you’ll learn about the Matis, the Yanomami and the Riberenos. We’ve done a little more research on our own about the Matis after reading about them. We’ve already learned more about the Matis, which you can find out here.
The first time we read this book corresponded with the same week Tristan planted a tree at a garden allotment during a hedgerow foraging walk. The timing was perfect because then he could better relate about the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange and about the rainforest being called the “lungs of our planet”. There is also more information about conservation at the end of this book, including links to organisations for further information.
We’re Roaming in the Rainforest can be used to introduce so many topics of discussion:
- science, oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange in plants.
- changes in the climate and landscape.
- learn about cultures different from yours.
- animals and their surroundings.
- geography, where is the Amazon Rainforest in relation to where you live? How does the land differ?
- learn about conservation and how you can do your bit.
- learn about the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and why this is important
- talk about camouflage and why it is important to animals.Physical activity, hang like a sloth, sleep like a jaguar is one activity my children have been enjoying!
The children have also made this cute poison dart frog inspired by this book. You can see the directions here.
Jakki is a mum of 2 girls aged 5 and 3. After she was made redundant last year she decided that she wanted to have a job that would fit around her family and that would let her run her own business her own way. She chose to go with Barefoot Books because of their relaxed and open culture and because as a company they fit in well with her own values.
As an ambassador she visits children’s/toddler groups and hosts home parties where you can browse and buy at home. (There will be themed parties launching soon, follow her Barefoot in Belfast Blog , or Facebook page, to find out the details when they’re announced). You can also Follow Jakki and Barefoot in Belfast on Twitter and Pinterest.
The mission statement of Barefoot is:
At Barefoot Books, we celebrate art and story that opens the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, focusing on themes that encourage independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning and respect for the world’s diversity.
If your child likes books, be sure to stop by our book and book activities page where you’ll find lots of great books and ways we’ve found to have even more fun with them, including a poison dart frog that was inspired by this book.
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