I like that this story of the life cycle of a Saguaro cactus also gives so much information about species it is connected to.

This book uses the life cycle of a cactus to show the inner workings of life in the deserts of the American Southwest. It begins when a pack rat eats of the fruit that falls off of a cactus and gets a seed stuck in its whiskers. It ends with a 200 year old, 18 foot cactus falling over and crumbling, leaving behind its skeleton. In between these two points, many different animals find a temporary home in this cactus, thus the title. This book highlights the symbiotic relationship between different forms of life in the desert. ( )

Summary - This book explains the life cycle of a saguaro cactus. It shows in detail how the seeds are scattered from the fruit and how the seeds are spread due to animals. The most surprising thing that I learned was just how long it takes cacti to grow. It takes a cactus twenty-five years to grow two feet and the book explains prime conditions are needed for growth. At the cactus matures, it becomes a safe haven for a multitude of of animals as their home. They dig out little holes to live in within the cactus, until the cactus eventually falls over.
How to use it - You could use this book to explain the life cycle of not only animals, but plants too. ( )

I enjoyed this book because it was both a narrative and informational piece. The book is about a cactus that lives in the desert and provides itself as a home to many animals along its lifetime. I like that the book is told as a story, but also provides a lot of information about cacti. For example, "after a rainstorm, when the desert blooms with color, the cactus pulls in water with its long roots and looks fat. A young pack rat stops to drink the water that drips off the tree." This book is a great resource for elementary age readers who want to learn more about cacti and the desert. The pictures are also very engaging for young readers. ( )

I loved this book! Although this book was technically informational, the author wrote about the saguaro cactus in the form of a sequential story. This book format was extremely effective, as it captured my interest the entire time. For example, as the story progressed, the cactus grew older and older. After many years, different animals moved into the cactus, making it into a make-shift "hotel." The author purposefully littered important informational facts into the narrative structure.

In addition, the illustrations added to the book immensely. The illustrator used both water colors and colored pencils. The illustrations were colorful and contained detailed portrayals of native plants and animals. The best picture in the book shows all the different animal "hidey holes" that the cactus provides. The illustrator shows each animal under the ground, taking shade under the large cactus plant.
Overall, the big picture message of this book is that in nature, all things are born and then die. Also, the life cycle of a simple plant can have a tremendous affect on the surrounding animals. ( )