(3) 4-6 This is a scientific detective story, recounting how Kristofer Helgen recognized that a separate species of mammal--oliguitos--had been mistakenly identified as olingos for many years. Journeying to the cloud forests of Ecuador, Helgen was able to locate and observe living specimens. Markle's engaging book is as informative about olinguitos as it is about the thinking, research, and methodology of real scientists. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(2) PS Along with many other animals and plants of the Ecuadorian cloud forest, Delacre introduces the olinguito, a raccoon relative discovered in 2013. Alliteration in the parallel Spanish and English texts makes for an engaging (if occasionally tongue-twisting) read: "...brilla un bosque bordado de bromelias... / ...blooms a brilliant forest embroidered with bromeliads..." Delacre's prose and mixed-media illustrations convey this dreamy, quiet world. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Celia C. Perez | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2016

(3) YA Tess feels like an average high schooler, even if she is the star of a local TV show. But her life falls apart after international cycling sensation Juan Carlos is killed at a charity bike race--and Tess is the last one to see him alive. From Massachusetts to Ecuador, Renn creates rich settings, but the details don't detract from the mystery's suspense.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) K-3 Tales of the World series. Illustrated by Jim Madsen. Travelling with his father and his two tamarin friends into the rainforest to gather Brazil nuts, young Eduardo is the hero of this Ecuadorian adventure as he discovers animal traffickers and eventually foils their plot. Realistic details flesh out the captivating setting, as do the colorful illustrations, though their digitally enhanced look is glossy. An author's note discusses animal trafficking and rainforest interdependence.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Córdova. Young Isabella, through the conceit of a school writing project, teaches readers about her Ecuadorian parents' fight against pesticides and for fair-trade status for their rose farm. The framework is clumsy, but the information is sound. Córdova's fluid, vibrant-hued paintings enliven the presentation. An afterword by Lynn Lohr of Fair Trade USA tells more about the process.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) YA Virginia is only seven when she's "given" to a mestizo couple. She's expected to cook and clean for them and to care for their child. When she finally returns to her indígenas village as a teenager, she understands that she's caught between several worlds. Virginia's voice will compel readers throughout this story, which is based on Farinango's childhood. Glos.

Reviewer: Nina Lindsay | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2011

(3) YA Zeeta and her free-spirited mother have lived in fifteen countries in as many years; however, all Zeeta wants is a "normal" life. Now in Ecuador, she befriends a boy named Wendell who's looking for his birth parents, a search that leads to mystics, smugglers, and a community of kindred spirits. Readers will relish Resau's scenic descriptions and appreciate her thoughtful characterizations. Glos.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) YA Having lost their fortune in the Great Depression, Benita's family leave their Ecuadorian city for a primitive island where her father starts a coconut plantation. Benita falls in love, then out of love, with an islander and learns the mysteries of the island's spirits and its people. Although evocative in setting, the novel suffers from an inconsistent narrative voice.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) K-3 Welcome to My Country series. Colorful, captioned photographs and a brief text welcome readers to the country of Ecuador. The cursory text introduces varied climates and terrains, handmade crafts, people, lifestyles, and food. Points of interest include the gold-trimmed Sagrario Church and the folk music of the Andes Highlands. Report writers will find basic information. Map, "Quick Facts," reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 Countries of the World series. Starting with overviews of Ecuador's geography, history, and people, this survey goes on in its second half to explore in-depth topics pertinent to the country, such as the Amazonian jungle and the Galápagos Islands, as well as its relations with North America. Lengthy sidebars and captions on the color photos make the presentation choppy; maps and statistic sheets conclude the book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Legend has it that 750 tons of gold, amassed as ransom to free the Inca Sun King from the Spanish, lie hidden in the fog-shrouded mountains of Ecuador. Lourie covers the history involved before describing his own unsuccessful treasure-hunting trip. A historical text indicating the gold's location is included along with color photos and maps. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam