On the Banks of the Amazon
Written by Nancy Kelly Allen, Illustrated by Elizabeth Driessen,
Page 1
On the banks of the Amazon, a new day breaks. The mighty Amazon River weaves in and about, around and out the canopy of green. Hanging mosses drop down in this grand tangle called a rain forest.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari see paw prints. Animals see footprints.
Page 2
On the banks of the Amazon, the jungle wakes to a gentle breeze sifting through the trees, rustling leaves. Howler monkeys swing from branch to branch with arms and tails. The monkeys' frightful yowls and haunting growls tell other monkeys to stay away. Their fruit trees will not be shared.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari hear the howlers. Howlers hear them.
Page 3
On the banks of the Amazon, the morning air is fresh and clean. A jaguar pants in a slow, deep rhythm. Nearby, a tapir watches the jaguar watching it. Quick as a whistle and with a squeal as loud, the tapir plows through the underbrush toward the river. The jaguar turns and runs on soundless paws.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari take aim at the jaguar. The jaguar flees.
Page 4
On the banks of the Amazon, sunshine seeps through the trees. The forest floor, far below the canopy of trees, is speckled with bits of sunshine. Trees and vines spread their leaves grabbing the sun's rays long before they reach the ground. Brightly speckled poison dart frogs don't try to hide. Instead, they flaunt their colors as they jump into a pile of leaves, searching out insects for a meal.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari stare at the frogs. Frogs stare at them.
Page 5
On the banks of the Amazon, the morning sun rises higher in the sky. Near the water, an anaconda wraps like bark around a tree. The stillness is broken when a fish jumps out of the water. The anaconda slithers down the tree and slips into the water.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari glimpse the anaconda. The anaconda glimpses them.
Page 6
On the banks of the Amazon, the midday sun heats up the jungle. High in a tree the world turns topsy-turvy for a three-toed sloth. The sloth hangs upside down all day long as it eats and sleeps. Even the hair on the sloth grows upside down, from the stomach to the back.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari look for the sloth. The sloth looks at them.
Page 7
On the banks of the Amazon, treetops brighten the day. Orchids in red and orchids in pink push their petals toward the sun. Feathers in blue and feathers in green set branches ablaze where parrots perch. They go like the wind to the clay cliffs where they settle and nibble.
Two wildlife hunters on safari view the parrots. They aim and shoot. Parrots squawk as they lift off the cliff and soar back to the safety of the trees.
Page 8
On the banks of the Amazon, the afternoon sun sends most animals running for the cover of shade. Graceful pink dolphins glide with ease through the rippling stream. Paddling along, a pink flipper springs out of the water, then disappears.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari watch the pink dolphins. Dolphins watch them.
Page 9
On the banks of the Amazon, shadows get longer in the late day. The piranha tree sprawls over the rippling water. Hundreds of caterpillars, thousands of caterpillars cover the tree, waiting to hatch. Beneath the tree a school of piranha fish swim and wait. A caterpillar falls. The water splashes. SNAP!
Two wildlife hunters on a safari eye the piranhas. Piranhas eye them.
Page 10
On the banks of the Amazon, the evening sun fades low in the distant sky. Azteca ants are busy at work on the acacia tree. A worrisome vine doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of growing around the acacia tree. Azteca ants attack the vine, leaf by leaf, until it gives up and grows in another direction.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari study the ants. Ants study them.
Page 11
On the banks of the Amazon, animals hunt in the twilight. Spectacled caimans sun themselves on warm rocks. Slowly, they crawl, one by one, back into the water. Their jaws smile as they float, still as driftwood, waiting to catch evening meals.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari take aim. Caimans disappear into deep waters.
Page 12
On the banks of the Amazon, night creeps upon the rain forest. Rain falls hard and fast. The heat of the day is washed away. Chirps, squeaks, and croaks fill the darkness with rain forest music. The bullhorn calls of tree frogs from inside rolled-up leaves pierce the air and up the tempo.
Two wildlife hunters on a safari listen to the animals. Animals listen to them.
Page 13
On the banks of the Amazon, fireflies flash their nighttime beacons. Glowing lights float up and down. Like a helicopter, the lights hover then once again float up and down. It's only click beetles looking for food. The forest floor casts an eerie glow. A mushroom, a fungus, throws out a weak beam.
Two wildlife hunters on safari stare at the lights. Nocturnal animals stare at the hunters
Page 14
On the banks of the Amazon, fog arises on a new day in an emerald world. Howler monkeys owl their wake-up calls. A new day of hunting begins for the jaguar. A new day of sunning awaits the caiman. A new day of hunting ends for the click beetles.
Two wildlife hunters on safari pick up their cameras, aim, and shoot again. Animals scurry.
