Gilbert's Adventure

Do you like multicolored cactus flowers, fluorescent scorpions or solpugids? See photographs of all of them in Gilberts Adventure, a new childrens book by Max and Steven Oscherwitz, which is set in the beautiful Sonoran Desert.



The Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona extends west into California and south into Mexico. It is a green desert, not just an empty expanse of sand as you might think. Some of the most spectacular desert vegetation in the world grows on its mountains and in its valleys, and many unusual and beautiful animals inhabit the blue sky and granite rock of the area. Temperatures sometimes greater than one hundred twenty degrees and few clouds mean that the desert animals must wait patiently for the next rain. Recently, more people have moved into the Sonoran Desert to enjoy the beauty there, and their presence is affecting its creatures and plants.



Gilbert, a real desert Glossy Snake, actually was flooded out of his home by neighbors. He was relocated to the desert with Maxs help.



Gilberts Adventure is the imaginary tale of a young snakes good deeds after he is evicted from his desert home. In the story, Gilberts escape to the mountains only makes him realize how much he misses the desert. Before returning, however, Gilbert shows compassion for a drowning beetle and receives three wishes for his trouble.


Children and adults will enjoy the fantastic pictures in this book, many showing rare or unusual flora and fauna of our southwestern desert. The book is fun to read and encourages every person to show empathy for others, maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity and to protect the environment.



Author Max Oscherwitz is eleven years old and loves photography and animals. He lives in a beautiful desert house at the foot of a mountain with his mom, dad and dog Pez, where he can see coyotes and other elusive desert creatures. He collects interesting rocks and minerals, and keeps tropical fish in his own tank.


His dad, Steven, is an Infectious Disease doctor, spending much of his time treating patients with unusual and interesting diseases from all over the globe. He has helped to eradicate parasites in China and served as the expedition physician for a team of archaeologists in the jungles of Guatemala.


Max and Steven both share a love of science and nature, along with a sense of duty to the disadvantaged and impoverished of the world. They enjoy living in the Sonoran desert and photographing its plants and animals. Always on the lookout for natures wonders, they love to explore wild places from desert floor to mountain top.