Using cumulative verse, this picture book introduces children to the cacti, jackrabbits, peccaries, roadrunners, coyotes, lizards, and bobcats of the desert, while giving young readers an understanding of the interdependency of life in this ecologically diverse environment.Despite its stark landscape and harsh climate, the Sonoran Desert teems with life. Animals of all kinds live among the desert's fragrant mesquite and spiny cactus, and none can exist without the others. Madeleine Dunphy's poetic text explores all the warm and native elements that make the American Southwest such a mystical place, while Anne Coe's stunning paintings portray the desert's plants and animals as well as the dazzling colors reflected in the rocks and skies of the Sonoran Desert. This book is a must have for any young naturalist hoping to learn about the interconnectedness of life.

About the Author
Madeleine Dunphy is an educational consultant who teaches children about endangered environments. She has studied and visited many of the world's ecosystems, and was inspired to write books about our world's great diversity of life. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Gwendolyn. For more information about Madeleine, her books, and her school presentations visit www.mdunphy.com. Anne Coe lives in the Sonoran Desert, where she need only look out her window to see scenes like those portrayed in Here Is the Southwestern Desert. Anne's work is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and has been exhibited in shows throughout the United States and Latin America. She teaches painting and drawing at Central Arizona College. For more information visit www.annecoe.com.

Reviews

"Dunphy's cumulative poem explores the interrelationships between the living and nonliving elements of the Sonoran Desert. ... Coe's luminous artwork includes both panoramic backgrounds and vibrant action close-ups that will appeal to young and old alike."
Booklist

"[T]his book excels in demonstrating the interconnectedness of the various species that inhabit the Sonoran Desert."
Horn Book

"[This] book is beautifully designed...saturated with dazzling desert light." School Library Journal

"Here Is the Southwestern Desert is a cheerful introduction to a desert theme, or to any ecological study."
Teaching K-8



Book Information
ISBN 9780977379569
Author Madeleine Dunphy
Format Paperback
Page Count 32
Imprint Web of Life Children's Books
Publisher Web of Life Children's Books
Weight(grams) 127g