The Best Books about The Amazon Rainforest for Kids
Rainforest books are some of the first books our kids go to. There is something fascinating about them that makes kids want to learn more about them and the animals that call this place home. The Amazon rainforest is one of the largest rainforests and one of the world’s oldest ecosystems, home to many different types of plants and animals. If you are looking for a fun way to help your kids learn more about The Amazon, these books can help transport them right to the heart of the Amazon with these creative stories and nonfiction books. Here are the ten best Amazon books for your kids to read.
Books about the Amazon for Kids to Read
Below you will find our favorite fiction and nonfiction books about the Amazon Rainforest that your kids will enjoy and learn more about this fantastic ecosystem. Enjoy!
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What to Read Next: The Importance of Reading Aloud to your kids.
Fiction Books about the Rainforest
I love to weave stories into our unit studies and topics that we cover in our homeschool. From modern literature to folk tales these books can excite the kids’ imagination and explore the world in very different ways. Below are some of our favorite Fiction books and stories about the Amazon Rainforest.
Afternoon on the Amazon – Magic Tree House Series
One of my favorite series for emergent readers the Magic Tree House books follows Jack and Annie on adventures around the world. In the Afternoon on the Amazon, they get stuck in the Amazon rainforest and try and find their way back to the treehouse. You may want to get a copy of the accompanying non-fiction book Magic Tree House Fact Trackers Rain Forests to read alongside this.
- Mary Pope Osborne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 80 Pages – 08/29/1995 (Publication Date) – Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
The Mystery in the Amazon Rainforest
If your kids are getting too old for the Magic Tree House series, then Around the World in 80 Mysteries Series by Carole Marsh is a great next stage. In the Mystery in the Amazon Rainforest follow Grant, Christina, Sam, and more as they explore the mysteries of the Amazon rainforest. Full of information weaved into the story this is a fantastic book that isn’t too long and can keep the interest of reluctant readers.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Marsh, Carole (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 131 Pages – 08/01/2007 (Publication Date) – Gallopade International (Publisher)
The Explorer
A tale of adventure The Explorer follows a group of young kids whose plane has crash landed in the Amazon as they return to school. From the creatures that inhabit the rainforest, and weird and wonderful snacks to fabled cities this is a fantastic longer-chapter book for confident readers or a brilliant book to read aloud with your kids.
- Rundell, Katherine (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages – 09/18/2018 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest
When traveling in Mexico with the kids a few years ago we were very fortunate to have a Kapok tree pointed out to us. As we’d spent a lot of time reading The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest, the kids were so excited to see one in real life. They really are the giants of the jungle. Not only in the tree sacred for the Mayan people, but in the modern fable it’s a fantastic jumping-off point for any child that is interested in conservation and being an environmentalist.
- Cherry, Lynne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 03/13/2000 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Jabuti The Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon
Another folktale Jabuti the Tortoise is a vibrant and colorful story that tells a trickster myth about the Amazon rainforest and Jabutà the Tortoise.
- McDermott, Gerald (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/01/2005 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
The Great Snake: Stories from the Amazon
Mixing the narrative of a journey on the Amazon with folk stories learned along the way The Great Snake: Stories from the Amazon is full of captivating stories and in-depth drawings, so your kids can learn about what life is like in the Amazon rainforest and some of the many tales about this great rainforest and river.
- Hardcover Book
- Taylor, Sean (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 64 Pages – 09/01/2008 (Publication Date) – Lincoln Children’s Books (Publisher)
Check out our Rainforest Creative Writing Prompts to use alongside some of these fantastic Amazon Rainforest books for kids.
Non-Fiction Books about the Amazon Rainforest
For a more factual perspective non-fiction books are great, from early readers through to series that as an adult I still love to pick up and read to learn more these are our pick of the best Non-fiction books about the Amazon Rainforest.
Explore My World Rain Forests
Don’t ever discount picture books, whether fiction or non-fiction from topics with your homeschoolers, the images can provide each starting point for descriptive or factual writing as well as prompts for artwork and more. The National Geographic Kids range of books is great and Explore my World Rain Forests doesn’t disappoint. From jungle predators to thriving and lush plant life, your kids will learn all about the majestic world of rainforests.
- Delano, Marfe Ferguson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 07/18/2017 (Publication Date) – National Geographic Kids (Publisher)
All About Rainforests (Habitats)
Another nonfiction picture book that is a great introduction to rainforests and the Amazon, All about Rainforests is full of gorgeous pictures of the creatures and environment. From the treeetop birds to sloths in the trees, learn all about the animals that call these rainforests home.
- Gardeski, Christina Mia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 07/31/2017 (Publication Date) – Capstone Pr Inc (Publisher)
Life in the Amazon Rainforest
Another non-fiction book, but with a larger reading element, Life in the Amazon Rainforest is part of the Penguin Young Reader books. In this one, you can learn all about the wildlife in the Amazon rainforest with the help of this book.
- Clarke, Ginjer L. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages – 05/01/2018 (Publication Date) – Penguin Young Readers (Publisher)
DK Eyewitness Books: The Amazon
Another favourite series of mine, which to be honest I still dip into when I need extra information as an adult is the DK Eyewitness series. The Amazon is a fantastic non-fiction book that is jam packed full of interesting facts and information. Follow along as you cruise through the Amazon river and learn all about this vibrant tropical rainforest.
- Hardcover Book
- DK (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 72 Pages – 12/13/2022 (Publication Date) – DK Children (Publisher)
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