Deserts (Kingfisher Young Knowledge) - Hardcover

Nicola Davies is a contributor for Kingfisher titles including: 'Deserts','Birds','Oceans and Seas'

Grade 1-4–These volumes lack focus and barely skim the surface of their topics. In Deserts, two-page chapters cover subjects ranging from rainfall to mammals to recreational activities. Whales also tackles far too much by trying to discuss concepts such as body structure, communication, and migration patterns in a few short paragraphs on a single spread. Text blocks are arranged amid numerous full-color photographs and other illustrations. In Deserts, the type is sometimes hard to read when it appears on background patterns and shading. Unfamiliar words are defined at the bottom of the page on which they appear. Instructions for several craft projects such as a "3-D cactus" and a "Blue whale poster" are appended. Browsers may enjoy the illustrations, but the minimal amount of information and lack of organization limit the books' usefulness. Stick with more coherent titles such as Rebecca L. Johnson's A Walk in the Desert (Carolrhoda, 2001), Wendy Pfeffer's Dolphin Talk (HarperCollins, 2003), and Laurence Pringle's Whales! (Boyds Mills, 2003).– Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
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