Learning becomes fun with this counting book about the desert habitat. Kids and parents will appreciate its amazing artwork and be inspired to learn about and appreciate the world around us! Deserts are full of surprises! An amazing array of animals calls this driest place on Earth their home. Through rhythm and rhyme, children meet a new animal on every page. They won't be able to resist getting in on all the action as animal parents teach their babies how to live in this unusual habitat―camels kneel, armadillos dig, dingoes sniff, and jerboas jump. Cut paper collages capture the subtle beauty of the desert and also "hide" more animals for young eyes to find. One part song, one part story, and one part sheer delight! Backmatter Includes: Further information about the animals in the book! - Music and song lyrics to "Over on a Desert" sung to the tune "Over in the Meadow". "Berkes' habitat series continues with this "Over in the Meadow" song about desert animals. Using her proven formula, Berkes introduces readers to 10 desert animals (nine mothers and one father), what the babies are called, and one activity that the species engages in. "Over on a desert / Where the barrel cactus grew / Lived a mother gila monster / And her little hatchlings two. / 'Flick,' said the mother. / 'We flick,' said the two. / So they flicked with their tongues / Where the barrel cactus grew." Clean page designs place the text on a vertical half-page along with a map with the desert highlighted and labeled (nine are featured: two in Asia, four in North America, two in Africa, and one each in Australia and South America) and the prominent numeral. The rest of the double-page spread displays the family group. The textured papers in Dubin's collages give life to the animals and their surroundings. Other species include camels, meerkats, dingoes, armadillos, javelinas, desert tortoises, jerboas, roadrunners, and fennec foxes. Backmatter includes a "Fact or Fiction" section, details about both the featured animals and a hidden animal found in each scene, and suggestions for movements/activities to go with the song." --Kirkus Reviews (June 25, 2018) Marianne Berkes has spent much of her life as a teacher, children's theater director and children's librarian. She knows how much children enjoy "interactive" stories and is the author of many entertaining and educational picture books that make a child's learning relevant. Reading, music, theater, gardening, and cooking have been a constant in Marianne's life. Her books are inspired by her love of nature. Marianne hopes to open kids' eyes to the magic found in our natural world. She now writes full time. An energetic presenter at schools and conferences, Marianne believes that "hands on" learning is fun. Her website is www.MarianneBerkes.com. Jill Dubin's whimsical art has appeared in over 30 children's books. Her cut paper illustrations reflect her interest in combining color, pattern and texture. She grew up in Yonkers, New York, and graduated from Pratt Institute. She lives with her family in Atlanta, Georgia, including two dogs that do very little but with great enthusiasm.