D is for Desert

A World Deserts Alphabet

D is for Desert: A World Deserts Alphabet uses the alphabet to explore desert regions around the world, explaining the science behind what determines a desert and showcasing fascinating features and desert inhabitants. Budding scientists will traverse the rocky deserts of Mongolia astride the Bactrian camel, spy on the poisonous Gila monster and other lizards in the Sonoran Desert, discover geological wonders in Bryce Canyon National Park, and learn about desert weather phenomena such as dust storms and flash floods, and much more. A glossary of key desert-science terms and concepts is included.

Format List Price Your Price Qty
$16.95 $16.95
$28.95 $28.95
Interest Level Grade 1 - Grade 4
Reading Level
Dewey 577.54
Lexile
ATOS Reading Level 6.8
Guided Reading Level
Language English
Publisher Sleeping Bear Press
Available Formats Hardcover (9781585365012), PDF (9781410310699), Hosted ebook (9781627535304)
Copyright 2012, 2014
Number of Pages 32
Dimensions 11 x 10
Graphics Full-color illustrations
  • 2015 The Grand Canyon Reader Award - Non-Fiction Category, Short-listed, 2014
  • NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Books for Students K-12 List, Short-listed, 2013

D is for Desert: A World Desert's Alphabet - Teaching Guide

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Author: Barbara Gowan

Barbara Gowan, a former park naturalist, is a Sales Director for Discovery Toys. The University of Notre Dame graduate also educates parents on children's literacy. Barbara lives in Scottsdale with her husband and two teenage daughters, where she shares her yard with a covey of quail, a family of javelina, wandering coyotes and an occasional rattlesnake.

Illustrator: Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen was born in the Netherlands in 1951. With his seven brothers and sisters, he grew up exploring nature and his sketch pads were filled with observations from those family outings. Always drawing as a young boy, his father encouraged Gijsbert to make art his career. After high school, he attended and graduated from the Royal Academy of Arts in Arnhem, Holland. Gijsbert, or "Mr. Nick" as many children affectionately call him during his school visits, immigrated to the United States in 1976 and worked as Art Director for the Michigan Natural Resources Magazine for 17 years. In 1995, he illustrated his first children's book, The Legend of Sleeping Bear, finally fullfilling his dream of illustrating children's books.Residing in Bath, Michigan, Nick and his family share their 40-acre farm with sheep, horses, dogs, cats, turkeys, rabbits, chickens, pigeons and a revolving door of orphaned and injured wild life. The family's nature journals logged 20 years of wild life rehabilitation on the farm and it is through these journals that the popular Hazel Ridge series was created. The farm, the land and the animals make great subjects for the artist to paint. Mr. Nick travels to schools and conferences to share his passion for drawing—encouraging kids to make their hobby their career.

Full-color illustrations