Sahara

Touching every corner of North Africa is the Sahara Desert, one of the wildest habitats on Earth. This is a land of singing sand dunes, barren plains, mirages and glistening oasis pools. Against all odds, life manages to thrive here. Discover river crocodiles, scorpions and foxes, ancient pharaohs, nomadic tribes and camel caravans. With its scorching hot days and night-times that dip below freezing, the Sahara is a land of extremes, where only the tough survive.

An informative, attractive, and in-depth tour of a land with much to offer.An introduction to the desert that covers North Africa, an area almost as vast as the United States.Like the other books in this series, this title explores the region's geology, topography, flora and fauna in their habitats (including prehistoric ones), the ancient peoples who inhabited it, and changes past, present, and future. Webb engages readers with intriguing facts about climate, weather, and natural features, sometimes in lyrical language (the nighttime desert "whispers an icy breath"). Potentially unfamiliar terms, such as ergs, regs, and hamadas, are either defined in the glossary or explained-and illustrated-in the text. Enriching the science are some myths and legends, including the stories of the Ennedi Tiger, Queen Tin Hinan of the Tuareg, and the Lost City of Zerzura. Vignettes on two pages introduce four prehistoric cultures and three later civilizations, but the Sahel's cultures aren't discussed. A selective timeline features six explorers, including one woman: Alexine Tinne. Balancing the staggering amount of detail, the book's innumerable illustrations in soft-edged, lightly sketched color and line are dominated by blue and beige; verdant hues appear for scenes of the "Green Sahara," which existed thousands of years ago. Occasionally there's a disconnect between image and text; on one page two birds are named, but the accompanying illustration shows neither species (instead, it's a swallow); the caracal and the patas monkey are named but not shown. Words and art soften the image of this harsh environment.An informative, attractive, and in-depth tour of a land with much to offer. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12) Kirkus Reviews

Since the age of five, Christina Webb dreamed of becoming an author. After graduating from the University of Surrey with a BA in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing, she made that dream a reality. Christina is passionate about representation, and has a soft spot for unusual animals and the ocean. Her clients include Lonely Planet Kids, Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan and Wide-Eyed Editions. Christina is based in London, and can most likely be found with her head stuck in a book or following her itchy feet to exciting new places.Muti is a studio of 18 illustrators, animators, letterers and designers based in Cape Town, South Africa. Started in 2011, the studio has had the privilege of working with clients from around the globe, including Google, Uber, Forbes, Fortune, Barnes and Noble, Samsung, Facebook and more. Their diverse team and varied backgrounds and influences, as well as their collective desire to play and experiment, have allowed them to dabble in a multitude of styles and directions, types of clients and applications.

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