Amazon Rainforest

I am a warm, green blanket that covers a huge part of the world. I feel damp and misty, like after a nice, warm bath. I am full of happy noises. Monkeys chatter high in my treetops, bright birds sing beautiful songs, and a million tiny wings buzz all day long. A super long, wiggly river, like a giant snake, slithers right through my middle. Can you guess what I am? I am the Amazon Rainforest. I am so happy to meet you.

I am very, very old. My first friends came to live with me a long, long time ago. These people, the Indigenous peoples, learned all of my secrets. They know which of my leaves are yummy to eat and which ones can help if you get a tummy ache. They are very good friends to me. Much later, in the year 1541, new friends came to visit on big boats. A man named Francisco de Orellana floated all the way down my long river. He was so surprised. He looked up at my tall trees and saw all of my colorful animals, and he thought I was the most wonderful place in the world.

I have a very important job. My billions of leafy trees breathe out fresh, clean air for everyone on Earth to share. I am a cozy home for sleepy sloths, sneaky jaguars, and parrots that look just like rainbows flying in the sky. I love it when people learn about me and help take care of all my animal and plant friends. When you help take care of me, you help our whole beautiful world stay happy and healthy. And that makes me the happiest green blanket in the world.