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Synopsis The activity of the Mojave Desert is depicted in flowing verse and spectacular and subtle paintings--the mystery of a ghost town, the surprise of a sudden rainstorm, darting lizards, galloping herds of wild mustangs, and more. Full-color illustrations.
Reviews "I am the desert./ I am free.? Come walk the sweeping face of me," announces the narrator of this boldly painted book about the Mojave desert. Both artist and author detail the varied landscape of the grand Mojave and the creatures that live there. Mustangs, prickly cactus, ghost towns and Joshua trees are pictured within the context of changing seasons that "rearrange the desert's timeworn face with new designs/ Of colors, shadows, shapes, and lines." The paintings combine panoramic vistas with detailed closeups: a violet sky at dusk contrasts with a vast field of golden wildflowers, where a single butterfly is cupped within the petal of an orange blossom. Although the author sometimes strains to maintain the couplet form and the desert's direct narration to the reader, the solemn tone of the poem evokes the majesty of the landscape. Ages 4-9. (February) From the Publisher Tumbleweeds bounce and roll along the ground. Lizards dart, tortoises creep, and snakes glide out of sight. The Mojave Desert is a special place. Its landscape is powerful and mesmerizing. Here is an extraordinary celebration of this vast and ever-changing wonder for readers and nature lovers of all ages. From Margaret D'Evelyn ö The Christian Science Monitor (Eastern edition) The timeless simplicity and primordial quality of Mojave...speak to all ages. Diane Siebert lets the desert tell its story...Regular rhythms and clever rhymes propel us through space and the vagaries of time. Wendell Minor's artistic vision at times parallels that of Georgia O'Keeffe. He isolates stark rock and mountain forms before infinitely modulated, colored skies. Bighorns, tortoises, and jacks he enlarges, sculptures, and textures in the strange desert light...This is a beautifully orchestrated book of illustrated poems.
Awards IRA 1989 Teachers' Choices, Nov. 5, 1989 (International Reading Association) NCSS/CBC Notable 1988 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies, April 15, 1989 (Nat'l Council for the Social Studies/ Children's Book Council) IRA/CBC Favorite Paperbacks for 1994, Jan. 5, 1994 (International Reading Associa-tion/ Children's Book Council) 1988 John Burroughs List of Nature Books For Young Readers ALA Booklist Children's Choices for 1988, Nov. 4, 1988 Paintings from MOJAVE are included in: The Society of Illustrators' 30th Annual National Exhibition, Feb. 19, 1988 The Original Art Exhibition: Celebrating the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration, Oct. 21, 1988
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