Cactus Desert (One Small Square)

``The combination of humorous, scientifically grounded text with detailed, realistic drawings will pique the interest of armchair naturalists and active explorers alike.--Publishers Weekly. You'll want to try to keep cool in cactus country because the desert gets hot--whew!--really hot. With the sun blazing down from a cloudless sky, you'd think nothing could survive. But watch out, a rattlesnake, scorpion, or tarantula might be near. And beware a little beetle that shoots a foul-smelling spray--while it stands on its head! At any moment, a roadrunner might whiz by, a lizard might pop up, or a tortoise might stick out its head. And always, silently, the yucca and mesquite spread their thirsty roots to find a drink of water. It's not the easiest life on the baking earth, but it's so fascinating to visit the desert--one small square at a time. Cactus Desert is just one of the exciting, vibrantly illustrated volumes in the critically acclaimed One Small Square series of science and nature books for children ages 6 - 9. Each book includes: stunning full-color illustrations of each habitat and its creatures; motivating experiments and activities, along with clear, diagrammed instructions and safety tips; a picture field guide to the habitat; a glossary-index and resource list. One Small Square--an eye-opening series--puts the whole world in perspective for children, one small square at a time. Each book is a thrilling, up-close encounter with mammals, insects, plants, birds, fish, amphibians, bacteria, and the ecosystems in which they live. ``Science education at its best.--Science Books and Films. ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND

Its a sun-scorched world where clouds rarely come and nothing seems to move. That is, until children ages 6 - 9 up look a little closer to find tortoises, toads, and lizards, not to mention the scary rattlesnake and scorpion. Here, plants send their roots deep into the earth to find water, beetles stand on their head and shoot a stinky spray to fight off enemies, and roadrunners whiz by sleepy turtles and nervous desert mice on their way to ... where? Kids need only light clothes and a few simple pieces of equipment to explore the enchantments of cactus country.

Donald M. Silver is the author of more than 40 science books for children and teachers alike. In addition to the award-winning One Small Square series, he has written The Animal World, Why Save the Rain Forest?, Extinction Is Forever, and The Dinosaur Activity Bookall illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne. Patricia J. Wynnes illustrations have also appeared in Scientific American, Natural History, and The New York Times as well as in the highly praised books Hungry, Hungry Sharks, and The Human Body.