Author: Fernando Vilela
Illustrator: Fernando Vilela
Age: 4-8 years

Along the Tapajós is a vivid story about a day in the life of two kids living in the Amazon rainforest.

Along the Tapajós by Fernando Vilela inner page
Along the Tapajós by Fernando Vilela inner page

The story begins as the kids go to school in the morning by river boat. They see their neighbors have decorations up and learn there will be eight weddings shortly (the priest is coming and will only stay for two days)! When it begins to rain after school, they know the winter season has come and they will have to move the whole village to higher ground.

I love the illustrations of this book. I like how when they are on the water in the boat, you can see the flora and fauna of the rainforest all around them. It was interesting to learn about life as a villager on the river’s edge.

Kids will like Along the Tapajós because the kids in the story live such different lives. They will also like the bright, crisp illustrations. Adults will like this book because it expands cultural horizons.