Desert Voices

by Byrd Baylor Peter Parnall, Peter Parnall (Illustrator)

In this exquisite book, ten creatures of the desert introduce readers to their lives, homes, and their places in the desert world. Rich colors used sparingly, careful choice of detail, and striking page design all focus attention on the animal while conveying a larger sense of its being.--School Library Journal.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Nature, Childrens

Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Mrs. Wynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bird Baylor speaks in the voice of several southwest desert animals: pack rat, jackrabbit, spadefoot toad, desert tortoise, buzzard, etc. Each poem is written in free verse--short, non-rhyming lines that give the reader a little information about the animal in a neat little word-picture. Peter Parnall's spare illustrative style are a perfect match. Nice book for sharing free verse poetry with younger readers. Share with 3rd and 4th graders, then have them try their hand at free verse poetry about a pet. Teach me something and paint a word-picture at the same time.

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thought-provoking book of Byrd Baylor has to be read carefully and several times because each desert creature speaks in a poetic-prose way that can't be assimilated rapidly. Very nice, and I like Peter Parnall's illustrations, perhaps better in this book than in any of the others he has illustrated for the author.

[Julie]

Each animal of the American southwest desert gets a page in which to tell of its life and place in the ecosystem. Together their voices create a poetic way to learn about the food chains in the desert

[Audrey Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this text of poems to demonstrate experiment with point of view in writing with my fourth grade students. Each poem is written from the perspective of a different desert animal, describing how they survive predators, find food, and exist in an arid environment. This book would also be great to include in science lessons about biomes and animal adaptations that help them survive. The illustrations were not as eye catching as I would have hoped, but students enjoyed discussing putting themselves in a different creature's perspective.

[Tinea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful, slow like the heat of the day, and important to many of my friends. I came to it late. I preferred The Sonoran Desert: A Literary Field Guide, poems about the plants.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and beautiful words.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the artwork as a child and still love it today

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each critter deserves its own read. That is to say, take a break between them; don't try to read this in one sitting. A marvelous team does it again. Another reviewer said this was probably their favorite art by Parnall. In my opinion and to my taste this may not be the best place to start exploring their oeuvre. But it is on openlibrary.org.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool artwork- nice style. makes even the most boring subject, the desert, seem enticing.

[Lindsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

each poem includes an animal. Not really into poetry so this was kind of boring for me. Pictures and colors were fun to look at though.