Cactus Poems

by Frank Asch, Ted Levin (Photographer)

At first glance, deserts may appear to be desolate wastelands, but in reality they sustain a unique selection of plants and animals--each of which has developed a fascinating way to survive in this rigorous environment. Through photographs and poetry, young readers will discover a creosote bush bragging about its phenomenal longevity, a bulging saguaro majestically reaching for the sun, a collared lizard playfully pining for a fly-catching mate, and many others. Notes at the end provide fun, child-friendly information about the plants and animals mentioned in the book.

Genres: Poetry, Nature, Nonfiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

Frank Asch is an American children's writer, best known for his Moonbear picture books.

Asch published his first picture book, George's Store, in 1968. The following year he graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA. Since then he has taught at a public school in India, as well as at a Montessori school in the United States, conducted numerous creative workshops for children. He has written over 60 books, including Turtle Tale, Mooncake, I Can Blink and Happy Birthday Moon. In 1989 he wrote Here Comes the Cat! in collaboration with Vladimir Vagin. The book was awarded the Russian National Book Award and was considered the first Russian-American collaboration on a children's book.

Asch lived in Somerville, New Jersey where he and his wife home-schooled their son Devin.

He currently lives in Vermont with his wife, Jan.

Reviews

[Taylor Relacion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cactus Poems is a book about plants and animals that can be found in the desert. There are a various plants and animals in the desert that have a unique way of sustaining and surviving life. There are poems written about each of them. I would say that this book could be used for grades 3 and up because it's not very content heavy and the theme is easy to follow.
I would use this in my classroom because it's a great way to introduce poetry and I think it would be a great read-aloud for students in the younger grades. It could also be used to learn more about nature in the desert. I liked the photographs in the book the most because they were actual photographs of the environment, the landscapes, plants, and animals.

[Arline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great combination of poetry and information book. The atmosphere of the southwest desert is captured in this collection and the photographs are beautiful. In the back of the book there are notes on desert life. This area gives you information about the photographs.
Using this book in the classroom I would select a few poems to fit the needs of the lesson. One lesson could be around the dessert and use Water Secret, The Oldest, Waterless Shores, and Saguaro to learn about how organisms live in the desert with little water. Another lesson could highlight desert wildlife and I would use the poems about lizards, bobcats, and coyotes.

[Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cactus Poems is about when Frank Asch goes into the desert. he did it to find out about it, so he could write this book.

I gave this book 3 stars because I don't really like poetery. But even if I did, there could have been more or longer poems.

I would recomend the book to anyone who likes the desert and good photos of nature.