Operation Orangutan: Adventures of Riley    by Amanda Lumry & Laura Hurwitz Order:  USA  Can Eaglemont, 2007 (2007) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch In this latest installment in the Adventures of Riley, the lucky nine-year old boy gets to travel to Borneo with his uncle Max and cousin Alice. This time, they are studying orangutans and their life habits. The book incorporates real life characters, Dr. Cheryl Knott and her husband, Dr.Tim Laman, in fictional situations, to help children learn about scientific work in a rain forest environment. In this episode, Riley learns why the scientists collect and study orangutan urine, witnesses a rare fruit masting, and discovers many more secrets of the rain forest. Helpful sidebars - provided by real ecologists and scientists - give a short list of facts about various species found in Borneo, such as the fig wasp, sun bear, Sumatran rhino, pygmy elephant, flying snake, and of course, the orangutan. Using multi-media, the book features real photographs complemented by cartoon illustrations of the characters and some of the animals. Entertaining and educational, it's likely to ignite interest in exotic places and animals in their natural habitat. Although this is my first exposure to the Adventures of Riley, I plan to read some of the older titles. As a bonus, proceeds from the books will be donated to several wildlife organizations. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews