The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan K. Mitchell and illustrated by Connie McLennan (Arbordale, 2007) is a rhythmic story much like “the house that Jack built.” Each line builds on the previous one, and we quickly see how a rainforest throbs with life, from the tiny seed in the ground to the cat, snake, vines, sloths, frogs, and so forth. Sidebars on each page provide scientific facts about the various animals discussed in the rhyme, and the illustrations are richly detailed.
