Did you know that the dust from the Sahara reaches the United States? Back in March 2023, Hazel and I were visiting my close friend in Amelia Island, Ferdinand, Florida. There are many cool things to see there besides my friend and her husband. (Be sure to check out American Beach if you are there! Talk about history.) However, their condo is on the beach and from the deck you can see the ocean and the sunrise and from the balcony on the other side you can see the sunset. It is pretty cool. We were also able to see the moonrise. Did you know the moon rises? I had never thought about it before, but it makes sense. Anyway, while we were there the moonrise was a red moon. Later in the evening it would be back to a whitish yellow, but it always rose red. (See picture below.) My friend's husband told us this was because of dust in the Sahara Desert. I didn't totally get it but believed him. He is very into knowing things like this.
This was my first introduction the Saharan Plumes. Today I am going to share a wonderful picture book that introduces the Saharan Plumes and some of the amazing things they do for the rest of our planet. The book is A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet by Martha Brockenbrough and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. This book is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
From the Publisher:
From two award-winning creators comes a picture book that reveals the hidden wonders of how Saharan Dust impacts the world: from slowing a hurricane to nourishing a rainforest.This dust . . .
of what lived once
sustains what lives today
and what will be born . . .
tomorrow.
An ancient catfish becomes a fossil, and as the lake where it lived dries up, the fossil turns to dust--but this isn't ordinary dust. This dust begins in Chad, West Africa, but winds carry it across the continent, over the Atlantic ocean, to nourish and replenish the Amazon rain forest and beyond.
A Gift of Dust takes readers on a journey that shows just how interconnected our planet is, and how something so small can have such a huge impact. With lyrical, awe-inspiring verse based in fact, and stunning art from a Caldecott honoree, this is a story for our times.
From Me:
Do you remember being young and watching the dust in the sunlight? I do. We see dust at home, but it is different than the Saharan Plumes. The Saharan Plumes mostly come from areas around Chad Lake in Chad. The lake has shrunk and the parts that have dried up create the plumes and blow in the winds. The dried-up parts have fossils and other things, so it has nutrients. This dust is blown throughout the world and brings nutrients to the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Amazon Rainforest. This book shares a bit of this in a fun way for young children to understand. Honestly it makes it sound almost magical to me.
The book takes us to the Sahara Desert, the Atlantic Ocean and the Amazon Rainforest. It focuses on the positive things the Saharan plumes do. The nutrients feed life in the Atlantic Ocean and help the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide and change it into oxygen (and thus it helps us). It can help soften hurricanes and it can make the moon red and even the sunsets brighter colors. It does so much good for us and it is a gift. I love how this book shares the positives. I do wish it shared some of the negatives as well. The air quality when the plumes blow into an area can be bad. This book however is a wonderful introduction to the Saharan plumes for young children. It will get them wondering about it and hopefully have them research it when they are older.
I think this book is just interesting. I think it will be perfect for any story time. It is also perfect as a science lesson. If you want to learn more about the plumes and how they can affect areas (like Florida) check out here. I would love to see a book for slightly older kids about these as well with some more of the science in it. However, this is a wonderful book to share a bit of science with younger kids and keep them learning!
