The Mysterious Dripping Drops
By Laura Wiener
About
Taoca, the red army ant, and her colony from the deciduous forest are devastated by not only the two-legged creatures and their shiny blades but also by ravaging fires and fierce storms. Taoca is swept down the Amazon River and finds herself stranded in a strange rainforest environment where she befriends the leaf-cutter ant, Chief Sauva. Chief Sauva and Taoca journey through the rain forest brimming with danger and surprises to seek out Imbauba, the wise sloth. Hopefully, Imbauba will help Taoca find her way back to her lost colony.
Meet the Characters!
Chief Sauva the mighty mystical black ant from the Amazon rain forest. Her colony of leaf cutter ants resides in the underground metropolis Formicary known far and wide for its magical mold. Chief Sauva befriends Taoca and together they journey through the rain forest to seek out Imbauba.
Taoca the tiny feisty fiery red army ant from the deciduous forest. Swept down the Amazon River, she lands in the rain forest and is saved by the leaf cutter ants. Chief Sauva may help her find the way back to her lost colony and hurt friend Formi.
Formi the fellow red army ant. She is hurt, lost and in need of her best friend, Toaca.
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Imbauba the wise sloth who hangs around in the Cecropia Tree. Green tinted with algae and fluttering with butterflies, she loves to spend her time daydreaming and snacking on leaves. She may be the key to help Taoca find his way home.
Caiman the dangerous ravenous crocodile. With his mouth full of jagged teeth, he can't wait to chomp down on his favorite feast, fish and sloth.
The Anteater an ant's worst nightmare. Loping along with his long nose, slurpy tongue and sharp claws, he can lick up an entire ant colony lickity-split. Only a slithery snake is known to stop the anteater in his tracks.
Jiboa the six foot long slithering and sleek boa. Sleeping like a log, no creature wants a wake up hug from this constrictor.
Hello,
Meet the Author
Laura Wiener is an educator who lives in Atlanta, GA. Her third grade students have been the inspiration for many of her ideas. Laura began her career studying biology at Duke University and obtained a doctorate in molecular genetics from the Max Planck Institute in Berlin. She has combined her scientific research and educational expertise to help develop and teach children. Laura's research and travels led her to the rain forests of Central and South America where she witnessed first hand the amazing plants and wildlife. Leaf cutter ants, sloths and caimans are some of the more notable of many creatures she encountered on her journeys. Laura enjoys writing stories about nature for children and has been published in children's magazines. Educating and entertaining her young audience has become a life-long and most rewarding goal.
