What one place on the planet has 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 types of fish, 430 mammals and a whopping 2.5 million different insects? The Amazon Rainforest!
And I am lucky enough to write about some AWESOME scientists who have dedicated their lives to protecting it.
This is my NEW book coming from Charlesbridge Publishing, this fall to a bookstore near you! (October 14, 2025)
How did I get the idea for this story? I visited the world famous Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. (See, museums not only have cool facts to learn, but you can also get ideas for a book there, too!)
The Field Museum is best known as being the home to Sue, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. According to their website, “Sue is the largest, most complete, and best-preserved T. rex. At 40.5 feet long and 13 feet tall at the hip, SUE is physically the largest example of Tyrannosaurus rex out of the more than 30 less complete T. rex skeletons that have been discovered to date.”
But I didn’t want to write about Sue, instead I spent several hours in a different exhibit– one that showcased the awesome environmental efforts scientists at the Field Museum are doing to help preserve the Amazon Rainforest.
What is a Rapid Inventory?
“Field Museum rapid inventories are cooperative, rigorous surveys of the biological and cultural assets of a priority landscape for conservation.”– The Field Museum’s Rapid Inventory Website
Why should we care about the Amazon Rainforest?
There are SO many amazing products that we use every day that come from the Amazon Rainforest! Plus, there are more species of animals in the Amazon than in any other place on the planet!
The BEST part about a Rapid Inventory is that is involves SO many people collaborating to help protect the precious resource of the Amazon Rainforest.
“Broad collaboration forms the essence of our inventories. We work with stakeholders at all levels—from host-country and international scientists, to local villagers, to government agencies and civil society—to build on already-existing efforts, elevate local and regional expertise, and gather crucial biological and social information. Constructing the inventory with partners from the start is crucial for successful outcomes, as it cements common goals, provides clarity of roles, and ensures that the inventory results feed directly into action.”
What does the SOCIAL TEAM do?
The COOL part about a Rapid Inventory is that it’s not just about the biology of the area, but it’s also about the social aspect– the PEOPLE– that live there. They get a say in how the land is protected. This is a very important part of the process. Social scientists go into the villages and meet with the people who live there to understand how they are already living and protecting the areas.
Community members map their natural resources, sharing their deep knowledge of the territory.
I am SO excited about this book for many reasons!
First of all, I grew up going to the Field Museum as a kid. To be able to collaborate with them on a book, is just the stuff of dreams. Secondly, the Rapid Inventory team from the Field Museum has a lot of really AWESOME female scientists! And they do some really amazing things.
When I asked icthyologist Lesley de Souza if she was worried about there being anacondas in the waters in and around the Amazon. She said something to the effect of: “I don’t worry about them. You just have to be careful not to let them get too far up your legs.” 😮😮
This book is packed with many other escapades, including a night encounter with peccaries and meeting a snake in the makeshift restroom.
I hope you check it out! This book would be perfect for kids (of all ages) who love learning about animals, new cultures, conservation, and how to save our planet!
You can PREORDER the book HERE:
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Jennifer is also the creator and administrator of #STEMTuesday and #STEAMTeam2020
Big fan of the Field Museum! This book looks perfect for library collections.
Thanks so much, Robin. Yes, I love museums, too!