EARTH'S INCREDIBLE PLACES

An introduction to the desert that covers North Africa, an area almost as vast as the United States.

Like the other books in this series, this title explores the region’s geology, topography, flora and fauna in their habitats (including prehistoric ones), the ancient peoples who inhabited it, and changes past, present, and future. Webb engages readers with intriguing facts about climate, weather, and natural features, sometimes in lyrical language (the nighttime desert “whispers an icy breath”). Potentially unfamiliar terms, such as ergs, regs, and hamadas, are either defined in the glossary or explained—and illustrated—in the text. Enriching the science are some myths and legends, including the stories of the Ennedi Tiger, Queen Tin Hinan of the Tuareg, and the Lost City of Zerzura. Vignettes on two pages introduce four prehistoric cultures and three later civilizations, but the Sahel’s cultures aren’t discussed. A selective timeline features six explorers, including one woman: Alexine Tinne. Balancing the staggering amount of detail, the book’s innumerable illustrations in soft-edged, lightly sketched color and line are dominated by blue and beige; verdant hues appear for scenes of the “Green Sahara,” which existed thousands of years ago. Occasionally there’s a disconnect between image and text; on one page two birds are named, but the accompanying illustration shows neither species (instead, it’s a swallow); the caracal and the patas monkey are named but not shown. Words and art soften the image of this harsh environment.

An informative, attractive, and in-depth tour of a land with much to offer.