America's Deserts: Guide to Plants and Animals
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, NJCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.