Roxie Munro’s Desert Days, Desert Nights is such a fun picture book to use when exploring all of the different creatures in the desert with a child. My family’s exploration began when my daughter watched an episode of her favorite show, The Magic School Bus, and saw that there were many different animals that inhabited the desert. She promptly wanted to know what other animals there were who occupied the desert, of course, so we went to the library to find out. (Okay, we went online, too—but we also used a couple of books!)

Her favorite book out of the selection we brought home was this one, and I must admit that I really enjoyed it, too. The book highlights each of America’s main deserts, both during the day and during the night. Animals are depicted all across each page, putting the idea that there isn’t much life in the desert to rest immediately! You’ll be surprised at what you’ll learn in the book, too. While many people know that deserts are homes to scorpions, snakes, and coyotes, did you know that some types of antelope and bats also make their homes in the desert?

At the beginning of the boo, there is a brief introduction about the different deserts of North America. There is a fun, colorful map to see where the deserts are located, as well as a few facts about the deserts—including the fact that many animals have adapted to desert living.

There are 275 animals in the book total, but what’s really fun about the book is that it’s organized like a game. You have to find the “critters” listed on each page, much like an I Spy book. For example, in the Chihuahuan Desert, you’ll be looking for five scaled quail, a yucca moth, a javelin, a Mexican ground squirrel, and many other animals. If you aren’t sure about where the animals are, fear not: an answer sheet is located for each page in the back of the book. You’ll probably be able to figure it out—with the help of your child!

Along with each answer sheet, you’ll find additional facts about the critters listed—such as the fact that javelinas can eat cactus with spines, or that ants and termites may outnumber all of the other animals combined in some deserts! The book is so much fun, and so interesting for children interested in animals; I would highly recommend it to the fledgling naturalist in your life.