The books listed below may be available through publishers, distributors such as bookstores or online retailers, or library systems.
Independent Reading
EASY- Amazon: A Young Reader's Look at the Last Frontier
- by Peter Lourie. Caroline House, 1991
- A first-hand account of a journey through the Brazilian state of Rondonia, the heart of the Amazon, and of the destructive burning of the jungle.
- The Grandchildren of the Incas
- by Matti A. Pitkanen. Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1984, 1991
- Portrait of the descendants of the great Inca civilization.
- My Mama's Little Ranch on the Pampas
- by Maria Christina Brusca. Henry Holt and Co., 1994
- The author tells of working on her mother's ranch, going to a cattle auction, riding her horse, and watching a calf being born.
- One Day in the Tropical Rainforest
- by Jean Craighead George. Harper Collins, 1990
- The future of the rain rorest of the Macaw depends on a scientist and a young Indian boy as they search for a nameless butterfly during one day in the rain forest.
- Tonight Is Carnival
- by Arthur Dorros. E.P. Dutton, 1991
- A young boy journeys into town to play the flute in the band for the festival carnival.
- When the Monkeys Come Back
- by Kristine L. Franklin. Atheneum, 1994
- Doña Marta, always remembering how the monkeys in her Costa Rican valley disappeared when all the trees were cut down, plants more trees and sees the monkeys come back.
- Antonio's Rain Forest
- by Anna Lewington. Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1993
- Antonio describes his home in the Brazilian rain forest, the manufacture of rubber, and his father's and other rubber trappers' efforts to protect themselves from exploitation and the rain forest from the destructive plans of developers.
- Costa Rica
- by Ronnie Cummins. Gareth Stevens., Inc., 1990
- Describes the life of an eleven-year-old girl and her family on a farm in Costa Rica, including her home and school activities. It discusses the history, geography, natural resources, languages, government, religions, and culture of her country.
- The Golden Lion Tamarin Comes Home
- by George Ancona. Macmillan Publishing, 1994
- Describes the efforts conservation groups have made to reintroduce the golden lion tamarins into the Brazilian wild.
- The Most Beautiful Place in the World
- by Ann Cameron. Random House, 1988
- Growing up with his grandmother, a young boy in a little village in Guatemala learns how to work hard and what it is like to live in the most beautiful place in the world.
- Rain Forest Secrets
- by Arthur Dorros. Scholastic, Inc., 1990
- Describes the characteristics, different forms of plant and animal life, and destruction of the world's rain forests.
- Secret of the Andes
- by Ann Nolan Clark. Puffin Books, 1980
- A Newbery Award-winning account of a young Incan boy's search for his identity.
- Brazil in Pictures
- by Nathan A. Haverstock. Lerner Publications, 1987
- Describes the history, geography, politics, and society of Brazil.
- The El Dorado Adventure
- by Lloyd Alexander. Dell Publishing, 1987
- Vesper inherits a volcano and foils de Rochfort's efforts to build a canal through her land which would destroy the lands of the Chirica Indians.
- Let's Visit Costa Rica
- by Traicia Haynes. Burke Publishing Co., 1985
- Describes the coastline, history, port cities, social life, economy, and customs of Costa Rica.
- Lost City in the Clouds: The Discovery of Machu Picchu
- by Elizabeth Gemming. Doubleday & Co., 1980
- An account of Hiram Bingham's discovery of Machu Picchu, the ancient capital of the Inca empire, which had been unknown to the West for hundreds of years in a remote area of the Andes.
- Rain Forest Amerindians
- by Anna Lewington. Steck-Vaughn, 1993
- Discusses the Amerindians and their continuing struggle to preserve their way of life and their cultural identity in the modern world.
- Simón Bolívar
- by Carol Greene. Childrens Press, 1989
- A biography of the South American general and revolutionary.
Read Aloud and Reference Books
READ ALOUD BOOKS- How Night Came from the Sea: A Story from Brazil
- by Mary-Joan Gerson. Little, Brown & Co., 1994
- An ancient African sea goddess brings the gift of night to the land of daylight.
- Where Angels Glide at Dawn: New Stories from Latin America
- by Lori Carlson and Cynthia Ventura. Harper Collins, 1990
- Collection of stories by Latin American authors.
- Enchantment of the World: Brazil
- by Wilbur and Suzanna Cross. Regensteiner Publications, 1984
- Introduction to the geography, history, economy, natural resources, people, and culture of Brazil.