Author: Quimby, Diane K

Binding: Paperback

Number Of Pages: 36

Release Date: 17-11-2020

Details: Product Description Feelings can hurt, especially if you are born prickly on the outside and gentle on the inside. Catalina is a young cactus who must learn what it means to grow up as a saguaro. Growing up in the desert happens VERY slowly. Not only is Catalina's life all about waiting, waiting and more waiting, but she must be patient while staying in place. Catalina hopes for change, but when change does come along, she can't always make sense of it, especially after a shadowy visitor leaves something behind. ♥This story was inspired by the author's first visit to the National Parks of Arizona and the legend of Desert People (Tohono O'odham) that tells how cacti and humans are connected and how each can bring joy to the other. Parents and teachers will find messages of: patience growth self-regulation & change ...as well as ways to fulfill life's longings while dealing with the effects of social distancing. ★BONUS FEATURE: Visit the Sonoran Desert through handmade diorama illustrations and explore how to make your own! Review "A Touch of Cactus: Inspired by the Legends of Southwestern Tribes, tells the story of one cactus and, in so doing, teaches young readers aboutthe long lives of the saguaro cactus. Not only does the story teachyoung readers about the natural beauty and perseverance of cacti, but it also teaches them about patience and endurance, as Catalina must bevery patient while waiting to grow arms. This is a touching story aboutone cactus and one little girl who shows interest and respect for thenatural world and the cacti of the deserts of Arizona. The story alsoenforces the importance of social distancing (something we all have tolearn in the current pandemic situation) and how we must respect ourenvironment with a 'look, don't touch' approach. So many interestingcacti facts are shared and at the end of the book is an exercise foryoung readers: instructions on how to build a diorama to create theirown Sonoran Desert landscape. Beautifully illustrated" - Readers' Favorite From the Author Born and raised in the green rolling hills of New England, I never imagined I would find similar beauty in the hot, dry deserts of the west. After my first trip west of the Mississippi in mid-life, I became awestruck and wanted to explore further. As a teacher, I wanted to nurture respect for nature with my students. As a writer, I wanted to share how deeply impressed I was by a park ranger presentation on the life, legend and history of the saguaro during my first visit to Saguaro National Park in 2018. Hiking around the park, I noticed how much character these cacti truly have and Catalina was born! I got the name from our campground in Catalina State Park which sits at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson. As an artist, I learned so much about the hidden life of the desert by illustrating through a diorama technique and I encourage students of all ages to create landscapes of learning with common materials found in the home. From the Inside Flap The cactus in this story is a special kind of cactus called a saguaro (sa-WAH-ro). It is the largest cactus in the United States and only grows in some parts of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico. If you see some in southeastern California, they have probably strayed there by accident from bird or animal droppings. Saguaros have tough, waxy outer skin and spines for protection and shade, but because they only add an inch or two in the first eight years of their life, they start out growing under a nurse tree like the palo verde in this story. Just as your skeleton gives you support, inside each saguaro are 13 to 20 ribs. Saguaros can grow more than 60 feet tall and live for over 100 years, but they grow very slowly. They do not grow branches (or arms) until they are at least 50 years old. Some saguaros grow up to 25 arms and some never grow arms. Saguaros without arms are called spears. The Desert People in the story are Native Ameri

Package Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches

Languages: english