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Here’s another picture book for you. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry depicts the beautiful, endangered rainforest in full color. Walking through the forest are two men: one tall and one small. The larger man tells the smaller man to cut down a giant kapok tree, and then leaves the smaller man to do his bidding.

The tree towers above the small man, who is having trouble cutting it down. Soon, he grows tired, and sits at the base of the ancient tree to rest. Soon, he falls asleep, and the animals of the rainforest approach him, one by one. They whisper reasons not to cut down the tree into his ears. When he wakes up, he sees all of the creatures that have gathered around him. He notices that among the animals is a human child as well.

The man realizes that allowing the tree to remain intact will allow these creatures to live fully. What do you think he decides to do, in the end? What would you do? Check out a copy of The Great Kapok Tree to find out just what those creatures said to that man while he was sleeping. Find out more about the ancient forests on our planet, and discover what secrets lie in wait for you.