Tropical rain forests are full of tall trees and exotic creatures which make them perfect topics for classic books to help toddlers and preschoolers learn about amazing animals, life cycles, ecosystems, and the diversity of life. A collection of picture books full of animal species and lush rainforests can help preschoolers take an interest in reading and animal life to raise their very own rainforest explorer.
1. Sloths Don't Run by Tori McGee
This colorful rhyming story follows the cuddliest creatures on a rainforest journey through the Great Rainforest Race. Follow the rain forest animals on this adventure to learn important life skills about competition and courage.
2. Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck
This educational book follows the gorgeous story of celebrating tall trees and fascinating plants through a day-long journey of hellos and goodbyes.
3. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
From gorillas to Kapok trees, this classic book about rainforest animals mixes art with life sciences. A true environmental wake-up call helps young children to understand their connection to rainforest creatures.
4. Don't Let Them Disappear by Chelsea Clinton
This adorable story celebrates the diversity of life and the amazing creatures that are at risk of extinction due to human activities.
5. If I Ran the Rainforest by Dr. Seuss
A charming book starts on the forest floor and explores all of the rainforest plants that you may encounter on a real expedition through the jungle.
6. We're Roaming the Rainforest by Laurie Krebs
Follow these exotic creatures through a one-of-a-kind day-long journey through the rainforest.
7. Amazon Rainforest: A Guide in Rhyme by Eva Heidi Bine-Stock
A colorful rhyming story to learn more about the fascinating monkeys, bizarre creatures, and lush jungles.
8. Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree by Kate Messner
Every tree in a rain forest makes a home for a splendid number of bright and cheerful animals. This educational book combines gorgeous photographs with interesting facts about these wonderful ecosystems.
9. A is For Anaconda: A Rainforest Alphabet by Anthony D. Fredricks
Find a new friend to accompany each letter of the alphabet as you meet all of the wonderful animals that call the rain forest home.
10. The Amazon Rainforest: Animal Facts & Photos by KC Adams
An educational guide to the interesting critters found in the Amazon rainforest.
11. DK Eyewitness Books The Amazon by DK
Bright images and amazing, close-up photographs illustrate the most interesting facts about the biodiversity of life found in the Amazon.
12. A-Z Amazing Animals of the Amazon Rainforest of South America by Mindy Sawyer
Kids will love to work their way through the alphabet while learning amazing facts about the bizarre creatures that make the Amazon so unique.
13. Rainforest Animal Adaptations by Lisa J. Amstutz
Survival in the rainforest can be tough. Learn about the unusual survival tactics used by these rainforest animals.
14. A Rainforest Habitat by Molly Aloian
Every animal needs a home, and there's no place like a rainforest home! Explore the unique places that these rainforest creatures live and compare them to your city life.
15. Amazing Animals: Jaguars by Valeria Bodden
The mysterious jaguar has fascinated people since ancient times. This book explores the appearance, habitat, behavior, and life cycle of the biggest cat found in the jungle.
16. Howler Monkey (A Day in the Life: Rain Forest Animals) by Anita Ganeri
Brilliant photographs help to tell the exciting story of this very vocal and well-known member of the rainforest.
17. Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals by Deborah Hodge
In Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals, readers will learn all about who lives in the rain forest and how many of these animals have adapted to daily life there.
18. ABC Rainforest by American Museum of Natural History
ABC Rainforest is a stunning alphabet book that offers a beautiful view of the rainforest. This book covers a very diverse range of rainforest flora and fauna.
19. Nature's Green Umbrella by Gail Gibbons
Nature's Green Umbrella discusses the climate, plants, and animals that make up a tropical rain forest. Kids will enjoy exploring the colorful world beneath the treetop canopy.
20. Tropical Rain Forest by Donald Silver
Tropical Rainforest discusses the fascinating creatures that make up the tropical rainforest. The facts about the danger of the rainforest disappearing forever are a great way to engage readers in how to protect this essential ecosystem.
21. Orangutan: A Day in the Rainforest Canopy by Rita Goldner
Follow a young orangutan in Borneo as he goes on a journey this the rain forest. His day begins with his mother as she learns life skills that will help him survive and protect him from predators.
22. The Umbrella by Jan Brett
Jan Brett's storytelling is as wonderful as her illustrations. The Umbrella takes readers on a walk through the Costa Rican cloud forest that is heightened by the amazing details in the illustrations.
23. What's Up in the Amazon Rainforest by Ginjer L. Clarke
In What's Up in The Amazon Rainforest, readers will learn about the many different mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, and insects in the rainforest.
24. Rainforest Animals for Kids: Wild Habitats Facts, Photos and Fun | Children's Environment Books Edition by Baby Professor
Rainforest Animals for Kids is a wonderful educational book that will expand the reader's knowledge of the animal kingdom and the magical rainforest.
25. Alphabet Book Of Animals: A Kids Book About Rainforest Animals – Rainforest Photo Books For Kids by Maggie Clarkson
Alphabet Book of Animals from the Amazon is about rainforest animals will help kids learn the alphabet as they learn about the animals of the rainforest.
26. Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme by Marianne Berkes
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme gives young readers a fun and engaging way to learn about the diverse aspects of the rainforest.
27. The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan K. Mitchell
The Rainforest Grew All Around is a wonderful text that brings the jungle to life as readers learn about many different animals and plants that live in the Amazon Rainforest.
28. Smart Kids: Rainforest by Roger Priddy
In Rainforest by Smart Kids, author Roger Priddy introduces children to the fascinating world of our Earth's rainforest. Plant life and animals life facts are shared along with beautiful up-close photographs.
29. Rain Forest Colors (National Geographic Kids) by Janet Lawler
National Geographic has always provided some of the best animal and plant life photography. Rainforest Colors brings the 10 basic colors to life with beautiful photographs of some favorite animals.
30. Rain Forests Inside Out (Ecosystems Inside Out) by Robin Johnson
Learn about one of the busiest environments on Earth, the rainforest ecosystem. Discover rainforests that are found all over the world and what we can do to protect the wonderful animal and plant life that are found within them.
31. Kinkajous (Nocturnal Animals) by Kristin Petrie
Learn all about this amazing creature called the kinkajous. Discover what the kinkajous look like, what they eat, who their friends and enemies are and so much more.
32. Hello, World! Rainforest Animals by Jill McDonald
Rainforest Animals is a wonderful way to introduce younger readers to this bright and exciting world. Young children will love the easy-to-understand facts and colorful pictures of the incredible rainforest animals.
33. Animals of the Rainforest | Wildlife of the Jungle | Encyclopedias for Children by Baby Professor
The diverse life of the rainforest will be appreciated by all ages. This is fun and engaging that children will find more and more amazing with each page as they admire the beauty of the rainforest through photographs.
34. Tuki and Moka: A Tale of Two Tamarins by Judy Young
This moving tale about two tamarins reminds us that while the rainforest is a wonderfully beautiful place, there are dangers that lurk to cause harm to the animals that live there.
35. National Geographic Readers: Swing Sloth!: Explore the Rain Forest by Neuman
Swing, Sloth! Explore the Rain Forest will take the reader on an adventure to meet these amazing creatures who make their home in the rain forest. This book is great for pre-readers as there is a simple text with picture icons to help with engaging kids.
36. TIME For Kids Informational Text: Step into the Rainforest by Howard Rice
Step in the Rainforest is full of text features that help readers learn new and wonderful facts about the lush rainforest of the world. Readers are taken on a journey through the layers of the rainforest.
37. The Magic School Bus Presents: The Rainforest: A Nonfiction Companion to the Original Magic School Bus Series by Tom Jackson
The Magic School Bus presents The Rainforest is sure to be a quick favorite. Kid favorite Ms. Frizzle takes the reader on a journey with vivid full-color photographs that are enhanced with the familiar illustrations of the Magic School Bus series.
38. Afternoon on the Amazon by Mary Pope Osbourne
Jack and Annie are transported to the Amazon River by the Magic Tree House. Jack and Annie will take the reader on an adventure through the rain forest as they intertwine facts with a fun adventure story.
39. Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley
Simple text and informative background with brilliant, incredible photographs make this the perfect book to include in your must-read books especially if you are enthralled by chameleons. The close-up color photographs of the colorful, quirky chameleon will amaze all readers.
40. Red-eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley
The red-eyed tree frog lives in a tropical rain forest in Central America, which is captured by award-winning photographer Nic Bishop. We are taken on a journey as the red-eyed tree frog searches for food while avoiding predators.
41. Lunch with Aunt Augusta by Emma Chichester Clark
Lunch with Aunt Augusta is about a ring-tailed lemur named Jemima who is provided cautions from her father as she is off to have lunch with her siblings and her aunt. Every caution that her father gives her seems to be the opposite of what Jemima does. This is a short but sweet story that will be loved by young readers.
42. Verdi by Janell Cannon
Verdi is a wonderful tale with a deeper message of loving the skin we are in. When Verdi is young, he is deep yellow and a little different and he likes it that way. He soon learns that the color of his skin doesn't matter.
43. Slowly, Slowly, Slowly said the Sloth by Eric Carle
44. More or Less: A Rain Forest Counting Book by Rebecca Fjelland Davis
A counting book that introduces plants and animals found in the rain forest while explaining basic concepts of addition and subtraction.
45. So Say the Little Monkeys by Nancy Van Laan
This subtle book about procrastination will serve as a reminder that there is a time for play and a time for work. The tiny monkeys in So Say The Little Monkeys are having too much fun building their shelter but when night falls and it begins to rain they realize they've made a mistake.
46. Rain Forests (Magic Tree House Research Guide) by Mary Pope Osborne
In this companion to Afternoon on the Amazon, Jack and Annie's many questions about the rain forests are answered. This companion is filled with lots of up-to-do information, photos, and illustrations that Magic Tree House readers will enjoy.
47. Jungle: A Photicular Book by Dan Kainen
Photicular technology allows the photos in Jungle: A Photicular Book to appear as if they are 3D. giving the reader a vibrant look into this often mysterious world.
48. Capybara (A Day in the Life: Rain Forest Animals) by Anita Ganeri
The capybara is the world's largest rodent and probably the most unfamiliar rodent. This book gives all the details that will fascinate the reader about this four-foot-long creature of the rainforest.
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