A lushly illustrated introduction to one of the world\u00b4s most complicated ecosystems, the rain forest, from Washington Post\/Children\u2019s Book Guild Award winner Gail Gibbons Nature\u00b4s Green Umbrella continues to inspire an interest in rain forests amongyoung readers. Whether in the classroom or the home, kids enjoy exploring the colorful detailed drawings of animals and plants, all clearly labeled. In a tropical rain forest, as much as 240 inches of rain may fall in a single year. Beneath the treetop canopy, the rain forest bursts with plant and animal life. But only if we know how important rain forests are to the whole world will we truly understand the need to protect them.  Through colorful illustrations and interesting text, this book discusses the climate, plants, and animals that make up a tropical rain forest. \