Southwest Children's Literature

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Desert Voices

Book Review:

Through poetry, Byrd Baylor expresses the spirit of the desert and its gentle inhabitants. This book is enjoyable at any age or grade level. It is a fun way to experience the life and voice of ten different desert animals -- including the animal's thoughts and/or philosophy. This small book is a nice complement to any level academic curricula including science, English and art courses. It is brought together beautifully in Peter Parnall's stunning watercolor drawings. Traditional to Southwestern art, his detailed black and white drawings --speckled with tri-color-- emphasize the important message that animals in the desert have an abundance of earth knowledge that we can all learn from.

Together Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall have created several worthy books: The Other Way to Listen, I'm in Charge of Celebrations, and three Caldecott Honor Books: The Desert Is Theirs, Hawk, I'm Your Brother, and The Way to Start a Day.

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