In this new and updated edition, learn everything you need to know about one of the toughest environments on Earth, from #1 science writer for kids Gail Gibbons. Did you know that flowers can grow in the desert? Deserts cover one-fifth of the land on Earth and receive less than 10-inches of rain in a year. However, these hot, sandy, and rocky landscapes are filled with the most unique and adaptable plants and animals. Discover everything about these mysterious and beautiful biomes in this updated introduction on deserts, with the most up-to-date scientific information. Learn about the different types of terrain found in deserts from dunes to mesas. With accessible diagrams, learn how succulents and other plants survive such a dry, hot climate. Meet the birds, critters, and creepy crawlies that call the desert home. Clearly labeled watercolor illustrations introduce young readers to dozens of desert dwellers from the western diamondback rattlesnake to the road runner to the camel.

Gail Gibbons "has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator." Ms. Gibbons is the author of more than 120 acclaimed books for young readers, including the bestselling titles From Seed to Plant and Monarch Butterflies. Her many honors include the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award and the NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book Award.