Way Out in the Desert

By TJ Marsh

☕︎☕︎☕︎

We grabbed this one during a trip to Page, AZ, after exploring the stunning slot canyons. The rhythm of the story captures the quiet, expansive nature of the desert, making it almost feel like you’re hearing the desert’s heartbeat with every turn of the page. It’s soothing, gentle, and full of life. The cadence of the text feels like a song, slow and steady, that pulls you in and holds you there.

What I love about this book is how it gently taps into the theme of motherhood without being heavy-handed. As each animal experiences the desert, they’re accompanied by their mothers—guiding, protecting, and offering a sense of security in a vast, wide-open space. As a mom, there’s something so reassuring about reading a story where the mother’s presence is so steady, just like the desert itself. It reminds me that, no matter how big the world gets, there’s always a sense of comfort and love from a mom’s embrace, even when everything around us feels so expansive and unknown.

One of my favorite lines from the book is:
“And they snuggled all night, where the saguaros reach to heaven.”
It perfectly captures the calm and comfort that comes with being held close, no matter how vast or wild the world around you is. Whether it's in the desert or at home, it’s a beautiful reminder that love is a grounding force, offering peace in the most unexpected places.