Around One Cactus

April 1, 2004
K-Gr 4-In a cadence reminiscent of Arnold Lobel's The Rose in My Garden (HarperTrophy, 1993), Fredericks utilizes a cumulative rhyme to introduce the community of a Saguaro cactus. A young boy observes the impressive plant and wonders, "Who could be living on this arid ground?" As night falls, he walks away and the animals begin to "play and prey." First, "A leaping rat builds a cozy nest/(A sheltered place for her young to rest)/Beside the cactus tall and grand, /A haven for creatures in a waterless land." Each additional verse conveys a few facts about another desert inhabitant. A "Field Notes" section at the end explains that these animals can be found in the Sonoran desert and provides some background about each of them. DiRubbio's vibrantly colored and detailed illustrations-including pictures of a speckled Gila monster and sharp-eyed owl-are sized perfectly to provide clarity. Combining an elegant text with dramatic artwork, this book is an attention-grabbing read-aloud and a winner for any collection.-Phyllis M. Simon, Bay Shore School District, NY

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2004
A cumulative rhyming text relates observations about the variety of life in and around a saguaro cactus, including an elf owl, scorpion, Gila monster, and rattlesnake. Close-up, brighter-than-life illustrations show the animals and their habitat, but the text's singsongy rhyme becomes tedious and detracts from the book's informational intent. A section describing the cactus and animal neighbors is appended. Addresses.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)