How to encourage your child to write:

Choose the level of your child:
Toddler/Preschool – discuss the answer(s) out loud first and have your child draw a picture of the answer

Preschool/Kindergarten – discuss the answer(s) out loud first and write the answer down for him/her leaving one word for him/her to write out himself/herself with your help. You could also encourage him/her to draw a picture as well.

Early Grade School – have your child either write out the answer himself/herself (encourage phonetic spelling) without your help, or offer to help with spelling each word out loud one word at a time.

Grade School – have your child write a sentence or two on his/her own and then read over and discuss the response. (You decide whether to correct the spelling or not)

Older Child – have your child write a longer response (paragraph).

As A Challenge – instead of a question ask your older child to write a story or poem about Brazil or the rain forest.

Here are some books about rainforests...

A is for Anaconda: A Rainforest Alphabet, by Anthony D. Fredericks and illustrated by Laura Regan, Sleeping Bear Press, 2009 – I’ve always liked the beautiful alphabet books in this series and this one didn’t disappoint, with gorgeous paintings, little rhymes and interesting facts along the side all about the wonders of the rainforest.

Do You really Want to Visit a Rainforest?, by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Daniele Fabbri, Amicus illustrated, 2015 – This brightly illustrated picture book is a great introduction into what is found in a rainforest.

Explorer Travel Guides: Rain Forests, by Nick Hunter, Raintree, 2014 – This is a fact filled book that is easy to read.

In the Rainforest, by Kate Duke, Harper, 2014 – we really liked this fact filled picture book and used it to fill in our printable worksheet about the rainforest.

Lifecycles: Rainforest, by Sean Callery and consultant David Burnie, Kingfisher, 2011 – Looks at the lifecycle of eleven different organisms covering a plant, many insects, birds and mammals with easy to read large print.

Looking for Jaguar and other Rain Forest Poems, by Susan Katz and pictures by Lee Christiansen, Greenwillow Books, 2005 - kids who like poems and/or animals will like this beautifully illustrated book.

A Rainforest Habitat, by Molly Aloian and Bobbie Kalman, Crabtree Publishing Company, 2007 – great for early readers, this book has large photos and basic facts to help kids understand what a rainforest habitat is.

Rainforest, by Sarah Levete, Crabtree Publishing Company, 2012 – A great book for early readers with large text and lots of photographs.

Rainforests, by Anita Ganeri, Kingfisher, 2011 – Another easy to read book filled with lots of facts.

Rainforest Animals, illustrated by Paul Hess, Evans Publishing Group, 2009 – a picture book with animal illustrations and easy to read animal poems perfect for new readers.

We’re Roaming in the Rainforest: An Amazon Adventure, by Laurie Krebs and Anne Wilson, Barefoot Books, 2010 – Bright whimsical illustrations adorn this picture book with simple rhyming text about life in the rainforest.

Try to find some of these Non-fiction learning titles:

Brazil Enchantment of the World, by Ann Heinrichs, Children’s Press, 2014 – Beautiful photographs accompany the text in this learning book.

A True Book: Brazil, by Tara Walters, Children's Press, 2007 - My youngest liked this book with succinct facts about Brazil.

Brazil in Colors, by Anna Stalcup, Capstone Press, 2009 – this is a good book for early readers. It has big bold text and bright photographs giving a general idea of what Brazil has to offer.

Brazil in Pictures, by To Strissguth, Lerner Publications Company, 2003 – A book for older kids with lots of detail.

Brazilian Foods and Culture, by Jennifer Ferro, The Rouke Press, Inc, 1999 – This easy to read book is a good introduction to a few Brazilian traditions and some history with simple recipes for a little taste of Brazil.

Brazil the People, by Malkia Hollander, Crabtree Publishing Company, 2003 – Part of the Bobbie Kalman “The Lands, Peoples, and Cultures Series” this one highlights the variety found in Brazil, including the indigenous people and their various tribes, the Portuguese explorers who arrive in the 1400s, the African slaves of the 1500s, but also modern times including life int eh cities and in the rainforest. We like this series and browsed through all three books.

Brazil: A Question and Answer Book, by Brandy Bauer, Capstone Press, 2005 – This book answers 12 questions about Brazil that kids may have. It has larger text and brief information making it accessible to early grade schoolers.

Cultural Traditions in Brazil, by Molly Aloian, Crabtree Publishing Company, 2012 – Larger print and lots of pictures make this a colourful look at the various cultural celebrations and holidays.

WRITING AND READING

Brazil

Can you find picture books or stories about Brazilian myths at your local library? Here are a few we found...

Amazonia: Indigenous Tales from Brazil, retold by Daniel Munduruku and pictures by Nikolai Popov, Groundwood Books, 2013 - includes 12 myths.

Brazil ABCs: A book About the People and Places of Brazil, by David Seidman and illustrated by Jeffrey Thompson, 2007 – A colourful alphabet book that explores Brazil.

Soccer Star, by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by Renato Alarcão, Candelwick Press, 2014 – An inspirational picture book about a boy from Brazil who wants to be a soccer star.

Tuki and Moka: A Tale of Two Tamrins, by Judy Young and illustrated by Jim Madsen, Sleeping Bear Press, 2013 – A modern picture book about the illegal capturing and selling of wildlife.

Uiapurú, story by P.K. Page (based on a Brazilian legend) and illustrated by Kristi Bridgeman, Oolichan Books, 2010 – This is the story of a songbird and is about the healing powers of the natural world.

Help your child find Brazil books about topics he/she enjoys...like animals, sports, foods, the rainforest., etc..

BOOKS

JOURNALING Question Prompt:

Write out one or more of the following questions in your Family Theme Day Scrapbook or on a piece of paper to glue in your scrapbook: What do you know about Brazil? What would you like to learn about Brazil?

NOTE: I like to do the journal prompt as a final activity for International Theme Days to see what my children have learned: Would you like to visit Brazil? Why or why not? If you traveled to Brazil what would you like to visit or do? What are three interesting facts you learned about Brazil?

Discover Brazil, by Ed Parker, Powerkids Press, 2010 – This is a good book to cover the basics of Brazil. It offers succinct information on the landscape and climate, the population and settlements of Brazil, family life and industry, and a little about tourism.

Living in Brazil, by Chloe Perkins and illustrated by Tom Woolley, Simon Spotlight, 2016 – An easy reader for grade schoolers.

We Live In Brazil, by Francois-Xavier Freland and illustrations by Sophie Duffet, Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006 – Good detail in a readable format which explores Brazil’s many regions by examining three children of Brazil and how they live.

We Visit Brazil, by Kathleen Tracy, Mitchell Lane, 2011 – More detail about Brazil for older readers.

Go to the library to find books about Brazil. Many libraries allow you to go online to search

and reserve titles.