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After listening to poetry about the deserts of North America, mostly in the southwestern United States, the students in Mrs. Gillooly's fourth grade class were asked if they liked the book's poems. The majority of the students responded positively to the poems about the animals, plants, and landscapes of the desert, and to the beautiful photographs. Many of the photographs were taken from the Sonoran Desert, which surrounds Tucson, Arizona. Many of the students related their personal experiences in the Sonoran Desert with wildlife, plants, and desert landscape surrounding Tucson. The students were asked to write poetry about the animals, plants, and desert landscape, as well as drawing illustrations of desert life and the environment. The following poetry was written by students in Mrs. Gillooly's fourth grade class in Gale Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona.

The Hawk In the desert my heart soars high As I see the hawk fly. I see his prey The prey shall run. The hawk dives for his prey Only having his mind On catching his prey In his grasp. The hawk's goal has been achieved. by N.
	Gila Monster There's a gila monster Just as bright as night. Up in the desert Blooming sky They are up very high. You can see the gila monsters Up in the rocks Up high in the desert blooming sky. by Kalyn Rose
Colors of the Deserts Cactus flowers are red Deserts are brown Trees are green I have a frown Because deserts are usually brown by A. K.
	Rain The rain comes very suddenly. The rain comes very fast. But for some reason In the desert It never seems to last. by J.
The Old Ghost Town Walking through the desert Cactus all around Being guided by the moonlight In the old ghost town. by Whitney