Review - Yara and the Yellow-Headed Parrots

Yara and the Yellow-Headed Parrots (Yara's Rainforest #3)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2021
Publisher: Lapid Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 50
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon

A pair of Yellow-Headed Parrots are guarding a well-hidden nest perched high up on an Amazon Rainforest tree. They are confident that their young chicks are safe in their well-hidden nest. But are they?

In this third volume of Yara's Rainforest series, Yara confronts a nest poacher bent on capturing these critically endangered Amazon Rainforest birds and selling them on the black market.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read the first book in this series, Yara's Tawari Tree, back in 2019. It's an interesting series of picture books, set in the Amazon rainforest, that tell stories around the people and the natural habitat there. Yara and the Yellow-Headed Parrots is the third book in the series (I'll have to see if I can track down the second one), but it ties in with the first book with the healing powers of a special tree.

The rhyming text flows nicely, and the story—about a would-be poacher who has his eyes on some yellow-headed parrot chicks—is both timely and sweet. He's not just a villain, but has his own reasons for his actions, which I found refreshing to see in a book like this. Not everything is black and white.

There's some good info at the back about endangered bird species. Overall, this is a strong addition to the Yara's Rainforest series.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5

Review - Yara's Tawari Tree

Yara's Tawari Tree (Yara's Rainforest #1)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2019
Publisher: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: author

Yara lives with her Mama in the Amazon jungle trying to rescue her beloved but increasingly troubled rainforest home.

When Yara falls gravely ill, the forest returns the love and saves Yara’s life.

Written in rhyme and featuring vibrant watercolor illustrations by Joanna Pasek, this is the introductory volume to a new picture-book series showing children how all living things on our beautiful planet depend on one another.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read an earlier version of this book (titled Yara and her Mystery Tree) back in January. At the time, my feelings were mixed. I had some issues with the plot and writing. Recently, I was contacted by the author with an offer to read the updated version, now called Yara's Tawari Tree. I'm happy to report that the book is now a lot better; the story is tighter, the potential invasive species issue has been resolved, and the message about the value of the forest and its trees is a lot clearer.

As part of the forest is being cleared and burned, Yara comes across a tawari tree seedling in need of help. She carefully digs it up and transplants it to a safe place. Later, when she becomes sick, the tree returns the favour and helps to save her life with medicine from its bark.

The illustrations are as lush and lovely as ever, and the rhythm of the rhyming text seems to have improved. A book about a little girl in the Amazon rainforest is rare and wonderful as it is... but the improvements made by the author now make this a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Thank you to Yossi Lapid for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5