In the Desert

Written by David Elliott, Illustrated by Gordy Wright

In the Desert is a nonfiction book about animals in the desert written in poem form. At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book, as the poems would reference things or facts about the animals, but wouldn’t give more details. But then I realized at the end of the book there are more detailed paragraphs about each of the animals. I thought that this would actually be a fun read aloud, because after reading the poem, the teacher could then give a little bit more info about the animal to make it more interesting. The illustrations are vibrant and detailed. Overall an interesting read that my elementary kids will enjoy.

Reviewed by Heather Arauzo, Librarian, Granger Elementary
Review shared in September 2025
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-4

In the Desert
Written by David Elliott, Illustrated by Gordy Wright
Candlewick Press
40 pages
Release Date: March 18, 2025
ISBN: 9781536223385
A review copy was provided by the publisher.