Books in Deserts Around the World series

No matter where they live, children are always curious about the world. But nothing proves more fascinating to them than other children. Exploring the themes of commonality and diversity, this informational picture book introduces young readers to 12 children from around the world. Speaking in the first person, the children briefly describe such things as the language, food, clothing, schooling and daily life of their region. One of the most appealing aspects of this book is the artwork, which features the use of fabric, paper, mesh, string and felt in multimedia collage. Through the use of colors and textures, each child emerges with a distinctive and endearing personality.

In this book, readers will learn about the unique and defining features of Iceland. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn more about the key details of the country, including geography, climate, culture, and resources. Compelling questions encourage further inquiry. Includes reading tips for teachers and parents, a map, quick facts, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index.

A successor to the popular Children Around the World written and illustrated by Donata Montanari, this book allows young readers to visit with fourteen children, each from a different country, to learn about their families. Based on real children, each one's story fills a two-page spread and is told in the first person, beginning with a greeting in the child's native language. From Ryan, who lives on a Texas cattle farm, to Nkoitoi, who tends the family goat in Kenya, to Baatar, who moves regularly with his nomadic family in Mongolia, there is a vast range of homes, locations, customs and activities presented here, all of it enthusiastically illustrated with bright colors and vivid detail by illustrator Jessica Rae Gordon. There is variety in the heads of the families as well: a single parent, multiracial parents and same-sex parents are all represented. For all the children's different experiences, however, it is clear how much their lives have in common with one another, and likely with the book's readers. The love they have for their family members, the joy they find in play and the beauty they see around them wherever they live are experiences that cross borders. This is a wonderful, uplifting global studies title perfect for exploring cultures and geography. It would also be useful for a social studies unit on families and family relationships. Adding to its value as a teaching tool are suggestions for lesson plans built around the book, as well as a glossary and pronunciation guide for foreign words.

This book describes the geological makeup and history of the Atacama Desert in Chile. One of the driest areas of the world-some parts never receive any rain-the desert's climate can be cold, sometimes producing snow and fog. Readers will learn that the Atacama's soil is so similar to soil samples from Mars that NASA goes to this desert to test its exploration instruments.

Learn about the different kinds of food people eat around the world. Read about traditional foods, like Russian borscht and Indian curry. Learn about food and religious festivals, fasting, where people get food, the different ways to eat food, and learn about hunger in the world. A map at the end shows the different countries discussed, from Borneo to USA.

This intriguing book describes the geological makeup and history of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China. Readers will learn about the variety of habitats in this vast desert system that support many different kinds of plants and animals such as camels, snow leopards, and bears. The Gobi Desert is also where the first dinosaur egg fossils were found.