Review: In the Deep Red Desert

When we think about deserts we often think of a hot and sandy landscape devoid of life. In the Deep Red Desert reminds me how many different animals inhabit the landscape; dingos, kangaroos, finches, echidnas, honey pot ants, blue tongue lizards,  bilbies, witchetty grubs, a scorpion, snakes and beetles.

I love the combination of Angie and Christina’s work.

Angie’s simple words powerfully show how desert animals move, look or sound. The words will entice young readers to move and act out the different animals.

Christina’s illustrations made me feel that I was lying on the sand bring the desert animals up close to my nose. An animal’s shadow in the picture gives a clue to what animal will be on the next page. The colours of the landscape – red, blue, violet and brown – remind me of an Albert Namatjira watercolour painting.

For the more inquisitive mind Angie has included an information page of interesting little facts like, “The Greater Bilby swallows a large amount of soil along with its food”.

This story is a celebration of wildlife in the Australian desert. Plus there is the cutest little surprise at the end.

- this review by Leanne Barrett

Title: In the Deep Red Desert

Author: Angie Lionetto-Civa

Illustrator: Christina Booth

Publisher: Windy Hollow Books, $24.95 RRP

Publication Date: 2010

Format: Hardback

ISBN: 9781921136467

For ages: 3 to 7

Type: Picture Book