Desert Jungle
by Jeannie Baker; illus. by the author
Primary    Candlewick    40 pp.
5/23    9781536225778    $18.99

While visiting his grandfather in the Sonoran Desert of Baja California, a boy learns to love the outdoors, an environment he had previously feared (“I never wander far from home because I think coyotes will take me”). When he first arrives at his grandfather’s, the boy prefers to play on his tablet, but in time (and thanks to the loss of said tablet) his grandfather is able to introduce him to the plants and animals of the vast protected desert. “This valley is full of secrets, chico. Open your heart, listen, and see what wonders show themselves.” As the main character loses his fear of the natural world, he begins to appreciate its beauty and diversity—and even comes face-to-face with a coyote. Baker’s (Home, rev. 3/04; Circle, rev. 5/16) signature three-dimensional collage illustrations, with their rich colors and textures, bring the desert habitat to life. Vines climb up the pages, snakes seem to slither atop the sand, and cacti look as if they could poke you if you carelessly touch a page. Back matter includes a map, information about the Valle de los Cirios in the Sonoran Desert, and a note on Baker’s motivation for creating the book.

From the July/August 2023 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.