Rainforests play an important role in the health of the world. Plants, animals, and people all depend on rainforests for many reasons. A tropical rainforest is filled with wonder and mystery, from the tallest trees in the canopy to the darkest and wettest leaves on the forest floor. The animals that inhabit this biome are varied and exotic. What readers may not realize is that not all rainforests mark the areas around the equator. Temperate rainforests, with milder climates, extend toward the poles. Readers learn the similarities and differences between these two biomes.