Prairies

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Patent focuses on an area of the U.S. that was called the "Great American Desert" when settlers moved through this vast sea of grass during Westward expansion. The author corrects this misnomer and points out the importance of grasslands as a food source throughout the world. Thorough explanations of the similarities and differences in prairie lands from tall grass to short grass and the interrelatedness of both plants and animals give readers a better understanding of the area. This is an up-to-date perspective that discusses how overgrazing and plowing destroyed the original prairies and the efforts currently being made to return some areas to their natural state. Large, clear, full-color photos on almost every page vividly capture the prairies and their natural wildlife. A map of North America shows the location of three different types of prairies. While David Dvorak's A Sea of Grass (S & S, 1994) has more striking photographs, Prairies provides a well-balanced amount of information that will give children a clear understanding of grassland regions.-Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ