A Day in the Life of the Desert - (Books for a Better Earth) by Roxie Munro

About the Book

"Tour 6 North American deserts in 24 hours from day break in the Mojave Desert through midnight in the Great Basin while learning about why these deserts are in danger and how to save them"--

Book Synopsis

Tour 6 North American deserts in 24 hours from day break in the Mojave Desert through midnight in the Great Basin.

This meticulously illustrated picture book takes readers on a cross-continental tour in 24 hours, visiting 6 different deserts at different hours of the day, and returning to each desert as night falls. Meet the critters that call these habitats home, from the turkey vultures that fly under the hot daytime sun to the gila monster that crawls across the cool nighttime sand.

While exploring the desert, young readers can play hide and seek with all kinds of desert creatures! Every nook and cranny is filled with critters big and small for readers to identify using the matching key at the bottom of the page.

However, these incredibly important, fragile ecosystems are in danger. On the daytime visits, children in grades 2-4 can learn about the challenges these deserts and animals face due to climate change, invasive species, and other threats.

When returning to each desert at night, readers can also learn about what's being done to protect these unique habitats. The deserts depicted are the Mojave, the Chihuahuan, the Great Basin, the Sonoran, Painted Valley, and Death Valley.

Budding naturalists can dive into the extensive material in the back of the book, including an author's note with age-appropriate resources on how to get involved, a glossary with science vocabulary, and a bibliography.

The Books for a Better Earth(TM) collection is designed to inspire young people to become active, knowledgeable participants in caringfor the planet they live on. Focusing on solutions to climate change challenges, the collection looks at how scientists, activists, andyoung leaders are working to safeguard Earth's future.

A Green Earth Book Award Recommended Title

Review Quotes

"A solid, geographically specific introduction to desert communities--and how we can protect them."--Kirkus Reviews

"Children drawn to seek-and-find picture challenges will enjoy exploring the individual illustrations in detail to identify the creatures mentioned in an adjacent list. . . . A welcome addition to classroom units on deserts."--Booklist

About the Author

Roxie Munro has written and illustrated more than 40 books for children, including Rodent Rascals, which received three starred reviews. Munro speaks widely at educational conferences on the topic of learning and gamification. She is also the creator of several award-winning apps for children, and her oils, watercolors, prints, and drawings are exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States. She lives in New York, NY.