Survival at 120 Above

In a fascinating companion to Survival at 40 Below (2010), readers visit Australia’s Simpson Desert, spending a day (and night) with the animals that can tolerate its punishing temperatures. Readers may be familiar with emus, red kangaroos, and skinks, but plenty of creatures—mulgaras, dunnarts, thorny devils—will be new to adults and children alike. Miller’s prose incorporates significant detail about each animal’s habits without sacrificing lyricism (“Filling her throat pouch with air, a female emu makes a drumming sound as she strides across the open woodland. She smells water”). Equally evocative are Van Zyle’s acrylic paintings, drawn from photographs Miller took on a trip to the desert. Ages 7–10. (July)