Author Description

Journey through Africa, America, and Australia and witness the amazing survival techniques of camels, kangaroos, snakes, scorpions, and other animals in hot deserts. Compare them to the guanacos, flamingos, and even penguins of the coastal and cold deserts such as the Atacama, Namib, Gobi, and Patagonia. We also tackle the tricky question of Antarctica – is this the biggest desert in the world? We pop in on the people of the desert: where and how do Bedouins, Tuaregs, Aborigines, and Rajasthanis live? What are their homes like, their clothes, their food? How is it different for the Mongolians in the Gobi? No desert book would be complete without the plant symbol of thedesert: the cactus. We show how these and other hardy plants survive inthe dry land. The book ends with a look to the future: desertification. The spreading desert is a major concern for the environment, but what are the causes (global warming, misuse of land), what does it mean for us (a quarter of land on Earth and around 250 million people are affected by desertification), and how can we stop it? Desert presents all the facts in the clear, colourful way people trust the "Eye Wonder" series to deliver. Stunning photography brings the subject alive for the reader, and accessible text (complete with glossary) give a level of understanding ideal for the 5-10 age-group. The series is perfect for school projects and home reading.