Penny Pack Rat lives in the Sonoran desert. Like all pack rats, Penny loves to collect things and her little burrow is filled with stuff she's found - always at night when the desert is cool. One day when her Nana says she's always wanted a shiny silver spoon, Penny becomes determined to find one for her. Penny starts out at night, wearing her backpack and looking for a silver spoon. Her friends worry about her safety. Sure enough, there are coyotes at the miner's camp, her favorite place to hunt. Will Penny be able to find that special spoon without getting caught? In this charming story told in verse, Conrad J. Storad creates a brave little pack rat who proves she's faster and smarter than the big coyotes. Facts about the Desert Pack Rat and a short list of Words to Learn included at the end of the book, provide extra value for young readers and listeners. Nathaniel Jensen's detailed and dramatic paintings recreate the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and depict a courageous and affectionate Penny who is certain to become a favorite of children everywhere. Readers will love finding their favorite ''junk'' in the many rooms of Penny's underground house. Here is a book that will appeal to ''pack rat'' readers of all ages.