Costa Rica Crate
In this Atlas Crate, you can make a flapping scarlet macaw, build a carreta, and explore Costa Rica!
"People from Costa Rica are called Ticos. That must be why it’s such a fantastico country!"
Explore:
- Scarlet Macaws
- Carreta
- Cocoa
Fun Facts
photo by Rammy_Rammy/shutterstock.com
- What bug can grow longer than a human hand — reaching lengths of up to 7 inches (17.8 cm)? Meet the Hercules beetle, a resident of Costa Rican rainforests. This incredible insect can carry up to 100 times its own weight. That’s like a human carrying an elephant on their back! No wonder this critter is named after the super-strong Greek hero Hercules.
Animals: Hercules Beetle
photo by Picture Partners/shutterstock.com
- Crack open a mamoncillo, and you’ll see gooey pulp that looks just like an egg yolk. After fruit lovers are done munching on this fruit’s sweet flesh, they can roast the seed inside to make the pit taste just like a chestnut — a deliciously nutty bonus!
Food: Mamoncillo
photo by Jan Helebrant via flickr.com (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Hundreds of years ago, the Boruca people discovered that wearing devilish costumes could scare away Spanish invaders. Today, this native tribe celebrates their history by carving scary masks out of balsa wood. They wear them at a three-day festival called Fiesta de los Diablitos (the dance of the little devils), where they reenact their historic fight with the conquistadors.
Festivals: Fiesta de los Diablitos
Your library
When the Monkeys Came Back
written by Kristine L. Franklin, illustrated by Robert Roth
When loggers cut down the local trees, monkeys near Marta’s home begin to disappear… until there are none left! Marta resolves to plant trees until the monkeys return. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the hard work behind conservation and restoration of Costa Rican rainforests and wildlife.
Get the book →
The Forest in the Clouds
written by Sneed B. Collard III, illustrated by Michael Rothman
What happens in a forest that’s so high up on the mountains that it’s covered in clouds? Find out what’s behind the mist of the Monteverde Rainforest in this gorgeously illustrated book. Readers will learn about the many plants and animals in this cloud forest — from what makes plants grow on top of other plants, to how many species of butterfly thrive inside these clouds!
Get the book →
