Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Text and illustrations successfully meld to tell this story of the slow-growing saguaro. The plant's 200-year life cycle from seed to final deterioration is presented chronologically. This sequential approach clearly demonstrates plant development and adaptation techniques for survival in a desert habitat. The symbiotic relationship of plant and animal at various stages of growth is shown as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects visit the cactus. Muted double-page illustrations provide a landscape background for the brighter hues of the cactus flowers and the creatures that come to visit. These illustrations are a gentle contrast to the boldness of Desert Giant (Little, 1989) by Barbara Bash and complement the photographs in The Hidden Life of the Desert (Crown, 1990) by Thomas Wiewandt. --Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Text and illustrations successfully meld to tell this story of the slow-growing saguaro. The plant's 200-year life cycle from seed to final deterioration is presented chronologically. This sequential approach clearly demonstrates plant development and adaptation techniques for survival in a desert habitat. The symbiotic relationship of plant and animal at various stages of growth is shown as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects visit the cactus. Muted double-page illustrations provide a landscape background for the brighter hues of the cactus flowers and the creatures that come to visit. These illustrations are a gentle contrast to the boldness of Desert Giant (Little, 1989) by Barbara Bash and complement the photographs in The Hidden Life of the Desert (Crown, 1990) by Thomas Wiewandt. --Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Brenda Z. Guiberson has written many books for children, including Cactus Hotel, Into the Sea, Moon Bear, The Greatest Dinosaur Ever, and Disasters. As a child, Brenda wanted to be a jungle explorer. Her books are full of well-researched detail, and Brenda sees this research as an adventure--one that allows her to be a jungle explorer at last.
Megan Lloyd read the manuscript for Cactus Hotel and went to the Saguaro National Monument in Arizona to see the cactuses herself. Lloyd is the illustrator of many picture books, including Guiberson's Spoonbill Swamp.
"A fascinating look at the life cycle of the giant saguaro cactus and its place in the desert ecosystem." --Booklist "Guiberson weaves an amazingly large range of facts into this simple story of a fragile ecosystem." --Publishers Weekly
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