Overview
Rocks that look like castles against the desert sky; quiet broken only by the trill of a canyon wren; the cool, clear night alight with millions of stars--all the wonders of the desert canyonlands come vividly alive as a mother and her daughter set out on their first backpacking trip together.As they hike, the girl discovers the rich variety of life that thrives in the dry desert heat--from the spicy-scented cliff rose to the purple-flowered spiny hedgehog cactus, from the spadefoot toad to the cottontail rabbit. Along the way, young readers learn how the native desert people once used yellow biscuit root for medicine and wads of soft bark from the Utah juniper for diapers. At the same time, they gather hints on what to pack for a wilderness camping trip and how to enjoy both land and wildlife while treating them with respect.
Evocative watercolor paintings and a lyrical, first-person narrative capture the magic of the desert in this unforgettable adventure in discovery.
Relates the experiences of a young girl and her mother as they backpack in the desert where the child learns about the plants, animals, birds, and rock formations.
Synopsis
Rocks that look like castles against the sky, quiet, broken only by the trill of a canyon wren; the cool, clear night alight with millions of stars--all the wonders of the desert canyonlands come vividly alive as a mother and daughter set out on their first backpacking trip together. Evocative watercolor paintings and a lyrical first-person narrative capture the magic of the desert in this unforgettable adventure in discovery.
Children's Literature
Barbara A. Steiner's pleasing blend of fact and fiction in which an elementary grader, on an overnight desert trip with her mom, learns about Utah's canyon-lands and how Native Americans used its plants.