Cactus Hotel (An Owlet Book)

Rating:
Summary: CACTUS HOTEL IS A REMARKABLE BOOK
Review: Cactus Hotel is better than a good book. It's a marvelous book. It tells, without sentimentalizing it, the story of the life and death of a saguaro cactus. Though it is the story of one plant in nature and how other animals and insects benefit from its gifts, it is a metaphor for living--for all of us. That does not mean the book is heavy or preachy. Far from it. The text is simple in the best sense of that word and lyrical. The illustrations make you feel as if you were in that desert world, living that life. Through its generous time on earth, the cactus is home to, and provides nourishment for, various desert animals--a Gila woodpecker, an elf owl, many others. It uses its span on earth to be exactly what it was meant to be. All of nature is revealed here in its wise splendor--heat, drought, rain, cold, wind, sun. I have read this book to my daughter countless times, and I will continue to read it to her. I think I love it as much--more--than she. The book is poetry. Pure poetry.

Rating:
Summary: A great book - an engaging story and great learning too!
Review: Cactus Hotel is better than a good book. It's a marvelous book. It tells, without sentimentalizing it, the story of the life and death of a saguaro cactus. Though it is the story of one plant in nature and how other animals and insects benefit from its gifts, it is a metaphor for living--for all of us. That does not mean the book is heavy or preachy. Far from it. The text is simple in the best sense of that word and lyrical. The illustrations make you feel as if you were in that desert world, living that life. Through its generous time on earth, the cactus is home to, and provides nourishment for, various desert animals--a Gila woodpecker, an elf owl, many others. It uses its span on earth to be exactly what it was meant to be. All of nature is revealed here in its wise splendor--heat, drought, rain, cold, wind, sun. I have read this book to my daughter countless times, and I will continue to read it to her. I think I love it as much--more--than she. The book is poetry. Pure poetry.

Rating:
Summary: A great book - an engaging story and great learning too!
Review: I love this book. My kids (ages 2 and 4) love this book. Its hard to believe a story with the main character being a cactus could be so beautiful and engaging. But it is. And, at the same time as enjoying the story it teaches the kids about saguaro cacti and desert life. When I first read it I almost cried when the giant 200 year old cactus falls to the ground in a storm.

Rating:
Summary: great book for elementary school students!
Review: I've used this book with first graders when we talk about plant and animal relationships. This book has wonderful pictures to go with the words. The students often stop me to ask me about the pictures. I love how it shows many different ways that plants and animals can "help" each other. I'd highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: great book for elementary school students!
Review: I've used this book with first graders when we talk about plant and animal relationships. This book has wonderful pictures to go with the words. The students often stop me to ask me about the pictures. I love how it shows many different ways that plants and animals can "help" each other. I'd highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous book
Review: My daughter, now five, discovered this book a year ago at the pediatrician's office. She looks for it every time we go there, and is captivated by the story and illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: Cactus Hotel
Review: This is an excellent book for children for learning about the interaction of plants and animals in the Southwestern desert environment. Many multi-disciplinary activities can be developed using this marvelous book!