• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Even though he's secretly terrified of deep water and all the scary things that swim below, Tate wants to shake his boring reputation, so he agrees to travel with his class up the Amazon River to help build a village school.

But there are even scarier things than anacondas lurking in the jungles of South America, and Tate soon learns of the legend of El Tunchi, a vengeful spirit that terrorizes those who harm the rainforest. When creepy things start happening and Tate keeps hearing El Tunchi's haunting whistle, he's sure the group must have angered someone. Or something. He and his friends need to figure out a way to make amends and get out of the jungle alive.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Lisa Dalrymple lives in Fergus Ontario with her husband and their three children. She has written other books for Creative, including If It’s No Trouble… A Big Polar Bear and Bubbly Troubly Polar Bear. Her picture book, Skink on the Brink, was a Starred Selection in Best Books for Kids and Teens, Fall 2013 and it won the 2011 Writing for Children Award of The Writers’ Union of Canada.

David Sturge is a graphic designer and illustrator who was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland where he currently resides. He studied commercial art and graphic design at The College of The North Atlantic. David has previously illustrated, On Poppy’s Beach (Creative, 2013).

Lisa Dalrymple's profile page

"A fast-paced hi-lo novel. Full of adventure, laughs and Amazon facts, I highly recommend this book for young readers...Jungle Jitters has a lot to offer. Not only is it very funny—always a plus!—but Dalrymple does a great job of incorporating facts about the Amazon without making it feel like a geography lesson...A must for middle school classrooms and reluctant or struggling readers."

Bookish Notions

"Dalrymple does a great job of exploring the jungle creatures and their habitat."

Resource Links

"Each chapter ends on a suspenseful note, making readers want to read on...Jungle Jitters is short and easy to read but lots of fun. Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials