Along the Tapajós by Fernando Vilela (review)

In this picture book from Brazil, Cauã and his family live in the Amazon rainforest on the river Tapajós and go to school via motorboat. Today, as class is ending, the sky darkens and the winter rains arrive. Cauã and his sister head home to help their family pile belongings onto big boats and move to higher ground; they find a place in the rainforest, build a new hut, and settle into their hammocks, but then Cauã's sister realizes they've left their beloved pet turtle back home. Watery landscapes created with woodcuts in red, yellow and green beautifully evoke the long, rippling river; people are drawn in digital ink with collage prints decorating their clothes and luggage, giving them a merry presence even as they are deluged by rains. The journey to school will be a relatable discussion topic for children who will delight in sharing their own (likely alligator-free) trips to school or winter routines. The turtle rescue, however, turns into a last-minute fantastical adventure scenario (including an anaconda that ties itself in a knot), which jars against the warm daily-life story of the rest of the book and ends the story on a cheesy note. Nonetheless, it's a cheerful introduction to a way of life unfamiliar to most kids, who will enjoy the river life, houses on stilts, and ambient wildlife. There's no pronunciation guide for character names, but back matter include information about the Tapajós and a note from the author.