I pass by saguaros every day when I go for a walk or run, but I usually don’t think about them. They’re just there. However, recently I have been reading picture books about the saguaro cactus with my kids, and I have been reminded of how interesting saguaros actually are. Wherever you happen to live, it’s good to appreciate the beauty around you.
I have a huge stack of books about the Sonoran Desert that I am using for our nature study. Slowly, I am reading them with my kids and picking out our favorites. At first, a lot of the picture books about the saguaro cactus all seemed similar, but as we read through them, I noticed some differences. Some were better for older kids because there was more information and longer text. And some were better for younger kids because the text was simpler and more repetitive. Here’s a list of my favorite picture books about the saguaro cactus.
Desert Giant by Barbara Bash
This one is my favorite! It contains a lot of information about the life cycle of the saguaro cactus. It includes birds that build nests in the saguaro, the flowers that bloom in May, the animals that eat the fruit, and how natives used the saguaro fruit. It also shares how the saguaro dies and the animals that move into the rotting cactus. The illustrations are beautiful. There are also a few diagrams.
Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson
I found this book to be very similar to Desert Giant, but it’s a bit shorter and contains less information. It explains the life cycle of a saguaro cactus – how it grows, the animals that live inside it, the fruit ripening, how it dies, and the animals that move in while it’s rotting.
The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne
This book describes the night coming, the animals waking up, and the saguaro’s flowers blooming in the night. The back of the book includes a diagram of a saguaro and its life cycle. There’s also a page with all the desert animals. You can go back and find them in the story. Lastly, there is a glossary with helpful terms.
The Seed and the Giant Saguaro by Jennifer Ward
This book starts with a pack rat running off with the fruit from the saguaro. Then other animals follow after him. Each sentence is repeated as another one is added. Children 3-8 years old will enjoy this book the most since it’s repetitive (older children may enjoy it as well).
Around One Cactus by Anthony D. Fredericks
Around One Cactus is about all the animals that live around and near a saguaro cactus. Each sentence adds on and is repeated each time. I like that each page features a different animal, and only that animal. My younger kids liked this one because it’s simple, repetitive and fun to read.
Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich
My favorite part about this book are the illustrations, especially the grouchy face on the cactus. Also, the way the spines make the cactus look like a punk are humorous too. At first no one wants to hug this cranky cactus. By the end, someone does hug him….and gets stuck. Don’t worry. It’s a funny, happy ending.
The Giving Tree of the Desert: The Tale of a Saguaro Cactus and its Nurse Tree by Danielle Fradette
This book was self-published by Danielle Fradette, and I really enjoyed reading it with my kids. It mimics the style of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein in that the palo verde, the nurse tree, gives all he has to help the saguaro grow to maturity. I have always wondered why saguaros usually grew next to a shady tree. It turns out there’s a reason. I will warn you that if you live here in Arizona and read this book, you will probably start noticing nurse trees everywhere you go.
I hope you are able to read some of these books with your kids. Be sure to read my post about our saguaro cactus nature study. While the Sonoran Desert can look like a bunch of rocks and ugly bushes, there really are some pretty cool plants here. The saguaro is one of them. Happy reading!
Carly from Deserthomeschooldays.com
