In the Desert

Description: "The Sahara, covering more than three million square miles, is a harsh and uninviting landscape, inhospitable to most forms of life. But under every rock, in every crevice, and hidden in the growth of the landscape, life persists. From the dangerous deathstalker scorpion and the Nile crocodile to the familiar Saharan cheetah and Nubian vulture, the animals of the Sahara not only survive but thrive. In his . . . poetry, David Elliott reveals the secrets of barren desert landscapes, featuring animals both familiar and elusive. With comprehensive back matter offering notes on the poems and Gordy Wright's striking, saturated paintings, In the Desert seeks out the hardy animals who have made the desolate deserts their home."--

Review Quotes: Refreshing reminders that there is bustling life even in hostile environments.
--Kirkus Reviews

In fifteen verses, Elliott celebrates creatures who inhabit the Sahara Desert. As always in this winning series, the poems are an enticing mix of the evocative and the witty, with haunting language characterizing some poems and light wordplay others.
--The Horn Book

Fifteen poems from Elliott spotlight Saharan desert fauna in this evocative, place-rooted collection. Employing a range of poetic styles, spare but effective second-person lines pay tribute to the creaturely essences of the fennec fox, deathstalker scorpion, Anubis baboon, and many others.
--Publishers Weekly

Prolific author Elliott has written eight books of short poems focused on animals dwelling in biomes around the world. . . This well-crafted book is an excellent resource for language arts, animal studies, and geography units. The eye-catching art and wordplay also make this an excellent choice for reading aloud.
--School Library Journal

Elliott reflects the harshness and beauty of the desert. . . The compositions are by turns dreamy, thought provoking, and funny.
--Booklist