Deep in the Desert

Deep in the Desert might inspire a unique approach for creating a desert thematic unit!

Lucas-Donald, Rhonda.
Deep in the Desert.
March 2011.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Deep in the Desert provides educators and children alike with a great deal of knowledge about the wildlife residing in the desert. In a unique fashion, readers will learn about:

• bats
• meerkats
• desert tortoises
• fennec foxes
• thorny devils
• gila monsters
• ostrich
• camels
• javelina
• tarkawara

The story takes on a sing-songy fashion, as the information found within the pages is written to the tune of different well-known children's songs, such as "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Yankee Doodle." Children will be familiar with the tunes, making the new songs easy to learn and the information easy to interpret! Teachers could have all sorts of fun planning for a desert thematic unit, setting the theme around the song tunes in the book. This would offer the opportunity to appeal to a learning style that is less seen in the classroom, reaching out to children who are interested in and learn well through music!

Sylvan Dell Publishing has put out a variety of reading and learning activities to use in collaboration with the book which can be downloaded below:

• For Creative Minds, which includes information about desert habitats, desert facts, maps of deserts around the world, and matching activities for students.
• Teaching Activities, which include sheet music for all of the adapted songs in the book, science journals, math cards, measuring & mapping activities and many, many more!
• Reading, Math and Comprehension Quizzes
  

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If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Pat Mora's Birthday

Mora, Pat.

Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers.

2001.

Lee & Low Books: New York, NY.

Ages: N/A

Genre: Poetry

Guided Reading Level: N/A

Review/Summary:

This poetry anthology, put together by Pat Mora, acts as a tribute to Hispanic mothers and grandmothers on behalf of their child(ren). Thirteen poems, some written bilingually, recall the accounts children have of special moments they have shared with their mothers and grandmothers. This book would serve as a wonderful gift for Mom or as a springboard for a Mother's Day gift to be made at school or even at home with Dad's help!

Links to Mother's Day Gift Ideas:

• "Memories of Mom" Memento
• Mother's Day for Educators
• A Child's Lesson in Writing a Personalized Mother's Day Poem

Mora, Pat.
Listen to the Desert = Oye al desierto.
1994.
Clarion Books: New York, NY.

Ages: 3-8
Genre: Non-Fiction, Rhyming Text
Guided Reading Level: E

Review/Summary:

This book would be a wonderful resource in a classroom when students are learning about different ecosystems (desert) and habitats, or as an introduction to the Spanish language. The text is very simple but provides a wealth of information about the desert at a level that would interest the youngest of readers.

Pat Mora introduces students to the desert and desert wildlife - owls, toads, snakes, doves, coyotes, fish, mice, rain, and wind. The illustrations are simple yet focus on the related text, providing minimal clues that allow enough visualization for non-readers to grasp the concept of the text. The repetitive nature of the text allows readers to easily predict some of the text that will follow.

Links about the Desert:

• Projects and Lesson Plans for Teaching Desert Ecology
• Desert Lesson Plans: 3rd Grade
• Force of Habitat, U.S. Mint - Nevada Quarter