Explore Every Ecosystem

Over and Under the Snow
Over and Under the Canyon
Over and Under the Rainforest
Written by Kate Messner & Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Age Level: 2-6 Years

Will I have Internet there?

I love this series because it’s a creative concept that is brilliantly executed. Each book is dedicated to a particular ecosystem and conveys through beautiful illustrations and sensory text the creatures that can be found overhead and underfoot in the environment. All books begin alike with a child embarking on a nature walk with a family member, and the narrative journey is so intimate and detailed that you’ll feel like a companion walking alongside them and peering with your own eyes.

“ ‘Under the snow is a whole secret kingdom, where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm. You’re skiing over them now.’ ”

There is so much educational value in these books for children of all ages. Younger children will enjoy the “seek and find” challenge of trying to spot the various creatures in the illustrations, and another fun activity is counting how many are hiding in each scene. Older children will enjoy reading the back matter which provides fun facts about all of the birds, bugs, and animals mentioned in the book.

Readers also learn about the different environments, like how winter’s underground creatures live in the subnivean zone which exists between the snowpack and ground, that the barren landscape of the canyon can transform into a lush carpet of wildflowers, and that hanging bridges enable passage through the rainforest in parts of Costa Rica. You’ll close the book feeling like you’ve just completed an incredible journey.

Interior detail from “Over and Under the Snow”

Interior detail from “Over and Under the Canyon”

Interior detail from “Over and Under the Rainforest”