In The Desert

81NQ+d7Fm8L
Author(s)
Co-Authors / Illustrators
Publisher
Age Range
4+
Release Date
March 18, 2025
ISBN
978-1536223385
Buy This Book
     
With wonder and wit, David Elliott’s poems look beyond the Sahara’s blinding surface to the rich flora and fauna of the world’s largest hot desert, depicted in Gordy Wright’s vibrant illustrations.

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 iconic and admiring 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.

Editor review

1 review
An Informative Journey through The Sahara
(Updated: July 01, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.5
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
In the Desert is about the Sahara, a harsh and uninviting landscape that doesn’t support much life due to its inhospitality. However, life persists despite the harsh conditions of the Sahara. This book talks about the various animals within the Sahara, such as the scorpions, the Nile crocodile, the Saharan cheetah, and Nubian vulture. This book has a series of poems that introduce each of the animals throughout.

What I Liked: This book opens by introducing you to the desert and then goes into sharing about the various animals that you would encounter by going through the Sahara desert. Some poems poke fun at the different animals, such as The Painted Dog which talks about how the artist who created them must have been in a rush because of how they look. The poems talk to you about the ways the animals look as well as some of the things that they do.

The illustrations throughout this book are various colors similar to the shades throughout the desert. The illustrations are realistic, making it so that you feel as if you are in the desert running alongside the various creatures. Many of the animals that are introduced in the book are ones that we don’t encounter regularly, therefore it's exciting to see them in their natural habitat.

Final Verdict: In the Desert is an engaging and informative book that introduces children to the various animals in the Sahara. Children ages 3 and up will enjoy learning about the various animals that they may not be able to see in person.
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