Sand Swimmers: The Secret Life of Australia's Desert Wilderness

Gr 2–5—This picture book gives readers an enchanting look at the Australian wilderness. The succinct narrative is rife with visual imagery ("frogs burrow deep into the forest clay and make a waterproof cocoon, like plastic wrap"), and the beautiful illustrations, rendered in detailed pen and ink, depict the colors of the desert, from turquoise to rust, Oliver portrays Australia's unique geographic center: the Dead Heart, home to a host of extraordinary flora and fauna. Children will learn about a notable British explorer, Charles Sturt (1795–1869), who led several expeditions into Australia in search of an inland sea. The addition of Sturt will cultivate interest in the historical aspects of discovery and further enhance the descriptions of the desert itself, such as the mention of spinifex (a "strange prickly grass") that frequently entrapped Sturt's horses. Boxed graphics, pictorial borders, and indigenous language etymology further elaborate detailed descriptions of this strange yet wonderful ecosystem. Highly recommended for science and history collections.—Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME