From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6?This title focuses on four distinct North American deserts?Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin?and the specific plants and animals that survive in each. Species names are highlighted in bold within the text, and specific places to find them appear in both text and illustrations. Area maps and double-page watercolor-and-ink illustrations realistically reflect the natural colors of desert life. An annotated list of common plants and animals, a section showing animal tracks, and a brief pronunciation guide and glossary are appended. A thorough index and a list of addresses of places to contact for additional information round out the book. A strength of this presentation is the opportunity it offers to compare life in different ecosystems; Wallace makes it clear that desert environments are not all the same, and that varying climates sustain different species. An attractive, well-organized guide for readers who can explore a desert first hand, as well as for report writers.?Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 3^-5. In the first section of this introduction to the animals and plants of North American deserts, four-page chapters discuss the major desert habitats, Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin, as well as two unique regions within those areas, Death Valley and the Colorado Desert. Each chapter features a description of the particular desert biome, a map showing its location, and a double-page spread illustrating the variety of wildlife there. The second section focuses on plants and animals common to North American deserts. Ink drawings appear throughout the book, some with one-color and others with full-color washes. This sturdy paperback is well designed for browsing and equally useful for school units.
Carolyn Phelan
