Gr 6 Up-A useful resource for students seeking either quick facts or thematic discussions, this survey of our planet's drier regions alternates sections of maps and condensed specifics with more widely ranging topical chapters. The maps have an uncluttered look, as changes in elevation are denoted in large increments by slightly different shades of light brown, roadways and political boundaries are kept to a minimum, and many major natural or human-made features are indicated by numbers keyed to side notes, rather than labels. Liberally endowed with large, bright color photos, the topical sections begin with an analysis of how deserts form; close with an eye-opening look at why desertification has become a major environmental issue; and in between consider kinds of deserts, characteristic flora and fauna, natural resources, and deserts in human history. Despite a Eurocentric outlook in the historical chapters and a general lack of depth in the accounts of human cultures associated with deserts, this volume is recommended for deeper collections, after Michael Allaby's Deserts (Facts On File, 2001).-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
"An attractive, up-to-date resource... Color photos, clearly drawn maps, and sidebars enrich the text. This well-researched atlas offers more than just maps... Highly recommended." — Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Best Reference Titles 2003
"An attractive book, written for the nonspecialist, that portrays nature with a wealth of simple maps, lovely photographs, and considerable basic introductory information... Both a browsing book and beginning reference book... Recommended for high-school, public, and undergraduate libraries." — Booklist/RBB
"A useful resource for students seeking either quick facts or thematic discussions... Liberally endowed with large, bright color photos, the topical sections begin with an analysis on how deserts form; close with an eye-opening look at why desertification has become a major environmental issue... Recommended..." — School Library Journal
"Provides a broad and comprehensive overview... Its layout and extensive illustrations make it especially attractive to the generalist browser and to students... Particularly suitable for public and school libraries." — The Arid Lands Newsletter
"Gorgeous color photographs, detailed maps, and clear and authoritative scientific explanations make this atlas both informative and captivating... A particular nice feature is that the geographical location and other details of each photograph are consistently provided." — SciTech Book News
'An attractive book, written for the nonspecialist, that portrays nature with a wealth of simple maps, lovely photographs, and considerable basic introductory information... Both a browsing book and beginning reference book... Recommended for high-school, public, and undergraduate libraries.'— Booklist/RBB
'Gorgeous color photographs, detailed maps, and clear and authoritative scientific explanations make this atlas both informative and captivating... A particular nice feature is that the geographical location and other details of each photograph are consistently provided.' — SciTech Book News
