This multi-layered book explores the transformative power of nature and highlights the importance of overcoming modern disconnections from the natural world. Inspired by the author’s residency in the Sonoran Desert, Mexico’s hottest locale, the story tells of a boy who, initially fearing his desert home, learns to appreciate its dangers and natural beauty through his grandfather’s guidance.
It addresses a concerning trend among children overly attached to gadgets whose detachment from nature causes a phobia known as ‘naturedeficit disorder’. The narrative, though concise, employs some sophisticated vocabulary, while the story’s depth is magnified through stunning wordless pages and relief collages. These meticulously researched and detailed illustrations invite further exploration of the story’s nuanced themes and celebrate the desert’s biodiversity dispelling myths of it being a barren wasteland.