Over and Under the Canyon
Over and Under the Canyon
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Chronicle Books
Just the Series: Over and Under (Amicus)   

Series and Publisher: Over and Under (Amicus)   

Annotation: In this latest book in the acclaimed Over and Under series, a spectacular hike reveals the hidden wonders, rich colors, and layers of wildlife living within a thriving desert slot-canyon!
Genre: [Biology]
 
Reviews: 2
Catalog Number: #304047
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Common Core/STEAM: STEAM STEAM
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Copyright Date: 2021
Edition Date: 2021 Release Date: 09/07/21
Illustrator: Neal, Christopher Silas,
Pages: 1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN: 1-452-16939-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-452-16939-2
Dewey: 591.754
LCCN: 2020041357
Dimensions: 30 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

After exploring ecosystems in books like Over and Under the Rainforest (2020) and Over and Under the Snow (2011), Messner turns to life in a desert canyon. Based on the author's experiences at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California, the book features a Black mother and biracial son standing at the edge of a canyon. As the pair makes their way down into the canyon, hiking over rocks and sand, they note the wildlife above, around, and below them, from a golden eagle and bighorn sheep to a red diamond rattlesnake and harvest ants. And then at the base, there's an unexpected explosion of wildflowers! Back at camp with the white father, the family experiences still more spectacular scenes at nightfall, such as a hairy scorpion that glows in the dark. Once again, Messner's descriptive imagery with lots of action verbs combines with Neal's attractive artwork, this time in a range of earthy colors. A concluding section offers more information about the animals and plants mentioned throughout this fine addition to the ongoing series.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Messner and Neal add this trek in the canyonlands of the American West to their excellent series (beginning with Over and Under the Snow, rev. 1/12). A mother and child day-hike through a desert landscape. They observe the animals within a canyon; in the skies above it; in other open spaces; and underneath the rocks and sand. With rich and unusual hues, Neal's illustrations capture the feel of the desert heat, following the hikers' gazes as they swing back and forth to watch hawks and kestrels soaring high above, and geckos, sheep, and rabbits moving past them through the canyon and valley. The text starts at a leisurely pace, speeds up during dramatic interactions (such as between predators and prey), then settles back contentedly as the hikers rejoin Dad at camp. As night falls, the family (Mom's Black, Dad's white) continues to observe nocturnal animals. Several appended pages include more information on each of the observed species as well as a selection of additional resources. Danielle J. Ford

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)
Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)
Bibliography Index/Note: Includes bibliographical references.
Word Count: 645
Reading Level: 3.2
Interest Level: 1-4
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 3.2 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 517945 / grade: Lower Grades
Lexile: AD680L

In this latest book in the acclaimed Over and Under series, a spectacular hike reveals the hidden wonders, rich colors, and layers of wildlife living within a thriving desert slot-canyon.

Over and Under the Canyon takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a desert canyon ecosystem. Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, the magic of a desert wildflower bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.

DISCOVER AMAZING ANIMALS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals living in it—and the desert is FULL of amazing and surprising animals!

CAPTIVATING NONFICTION: Like its predecessors, this latest offering in the Over and Under picture book series illuminates the magic of the natural world and its amazing inhabitants by telling the story of one family's hike through a real-world desert ecosystem in lyrical prose and color-drenched illustrations. Even the most reluctant readers will be drawn into a fact-filled story this compelling!

GREAT FOR TEACHING: The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize learning about animal habitats/biomes in K–2 curriculums, while later grades address topics like food chains, conservation, and endangered species. With a depth of research and an engaging, highly visual narrative, this book is an excellent resource for librarians and primary school educators.

ENCOURAGES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Concern for and preservation of the wilderness is an increasingly talked-about topic. This book provides a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world’s natural habitats and ecosystems.

ACCLAIMED AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR TEAM: Kate Messner is an award-winning author whose books for kids have been New York Times Notable, Junior Library Guild, IndieBound, and Bank Street College of Education Best Book selections. In addition to his work on this acclaimed series, Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author who regularly contributes to the New York Times and The New Yorker, and he has been awarded a medal from the Society of Illustrators.

Perfect for:

  • Parents
  • Nature lovers
  • Fans of Kate Messner
  • Fans of Over and Under the Snow and previous books in the series
  • Educators and librarians seeking nonfiction books with STEM content


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