Alejandro's Gift

by Richard E. Albert, Sylvia Long (Illustrator)

A likable, beautifully presented picture of a human being responding to his natural surroundings with sensitivity and imagination.--Kirkus Review. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Science, Geography, Kids, Birds

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A desert solitaire is pleasantly surprised when his garden starts to attract animals. He tries to attract more by digging a watering hole in front of his house, but realizes he hadn't considered the animals' needs for shelter as they drink. A great short story about living in harmony with nature. Includes a picture glossary of desert animals in the back.

[RLL 520 Sharonda Kimbrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Alejandro plants a vegetable garden, his home is soon visited by small animals in search of water. Happy about the appearance of these creatures, Alejandro thinks of a bigger project. As a history teacher, I loved the mini- geography lesson in the back of the regarding the Southwestern region of the country. It was very interesting, even to me and I am an adult. It also helped that there were images to go along with the information that was being discussed. I noticed in the beginning of the book when Spanish words were used that there was no translation of the word, as if the writer was saying " I know you already know what this is.." The pictures were beautiful, but somehow looked aged with all of the green and beige.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 14975 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 5.0 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP


Alejandro lives alone in the desert. To help the bordome he plants a garden and soon discovers he is not alone in the desert. His new found animal friends have come to share his water. Alejandro decides he has enough water to share. This is a nice book to use when talking about the desert and the animals that live in the desert.

[Alejandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gift from a teacher. There's things I won't be letting go of. An environmental fantasy I'm familiar with, and that's why I won't. But it's more about the illustrations. Sylvia Long's diligent touch intends you to take in mass the rough, grainy textures. It comes back to me easily, and more still.

[Kacee Eddinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alejandro lives in the desert alone -- to lessen his loneliness he plants a garden which attracts all kinds of creatures from the desert. Alejandro doesn't feel as lonely anymore. A sweet book about working with your hands and carrying for the earth around you.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This can be a good introduction to a mammals unit in science. Talk about how it is important for animals to have water to live, and also discuss the different animals who live in the desert habitat.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alejandro is a man that lives alone in the heart of the North American desert. His only companion is his burro. He farms and has a well that is powered by a windmill. Feeling lonely, he spots a chipmunk that is sneaking up in order to get a drink of water.
Realizing that the local animals need water, Alejandro digs a water hole for them. However, the results are not as expected, for he sees few animals coming to the hole to drink. After seeing a skunk flee when he approached, Alejandro realized what the problem is. The watering hole was too close to his residence, making the animals fearful of his presence.
His solution is to dig another watering hole farther away from his home, which led to a large number and wider variety of desert animals coming to drink. Alejandro is pleased that he is able to aid his wild desert friends and his loneliness is abated.
The descriptions of the different species of desert animals is very educational and this story also emphasizes how humans can aid and coexist with their wild animal companions. It is a good story for children about how a quality life can be lived by cooperating with nature rather than exploiting it.

[ConnieLettow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduces the Arizona Pocket Mouse, Badgers, Black-Tailed Jack Rabbit, Bobcat, Botta's Pocket Gopher, Cactus Wren, Mesquite (mess-keet), Coatis (kwa-tees), Collared Peccary (peck-a-ree), Prickly Pear Cacti, Costa's Hummingbird, Coyotes, Curved-Billed Thrasher, Desert Tortoise, Elf Owl, Gambel's Quail, Gila Woodpecker, Gray Fox, Greater Roadrunner, Harris's Antelope Squirrel, Merriam's Kangaroo Rat, Mourning Dove, Mule Deer, Phainopepla (fay-no-pep-la), Sage Sparrows, Saguaro (sah-gwar-oh), and White-Throated Wood Rat. It is a nice story about a lonely old man that provides water to the desert animals.

[Cheryl]

Read in a school textbook (LFL find). Not sure how much it's redesigned or abridged, so can't rate.
And I'm not sure it's a good idea to provide water for the critters... isn't it too likely to upset the balance of the web of life? And if you do want to water the mice and birds and deer and coyote, what about the peccaries? They tend to cause a lot of damage to trails, water holes, no?

Oct. 2023

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wonderful desert landscapes and detailed local fauna were the greatest attraction here. The little adobe house next to the little wooden stable, surrounded by Sonoran desert and backdropped with mountains, will look very familiar to anyone who has driven a state highway through the rural Southwest.

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonably interesting story about an isolated dessert dweller who created a watering hole for the local animals. Nice pictures. The implication that he had done something "wrong" with the digging of the first watering hole, however, bothered me. And the reality... One lone man inside his home is not going to prevent wild animals from getting the water. 🙄🤦‍♀️

[Jessie Polson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a man named Alejandro who realizes his garden starts attracting little animals to his house. He tries to build a bigger water hole for the animals to drink, but realizes this may be detrimental to the animal’s shelters near his house. This story shows graciousness and generosity.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was meant to be a "pass thru" book- something given to us that we would read once and pass on to a lending library or friend. The 8 year old declared before we reached the final pages, "we will be keeping this for sure". The book is 30 years old book looks quite current. The story is sweet and simple.

[Megan DeHart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story about a man living alone in the desert. He finds companionship in the animals that come to drink from the irrigation furrows in his garden. Deciding he wants to help more of them he digs out a watering hole, learning in the process that to enjoy nature he must give it space.

[Dena Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible illustrations! The message is to give to others as a way to overcome personal challenges. The book explores common contemporary issues - loneliness and the desire to help wildlife - through the experience of an old man in a simple desert setting.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man is lonely in the desert, until he realizes that water will bring companionship. The glossary of desert animals in the back is a great teaching tool and resource.

[Karen Dransfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about loneliness and helping local wildlife. The detailed illustrations from Sylvia Long are delightful and full of creatures and plants to look at.

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌵🌱🧑‍🌾💚Happy Birthday to my secret crush 🙂

[Jessica Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and a fun story. Enjoyed the index at the back that talked a bit about the different animals and had their images next to their names.

[Erin Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book speaks to me about the ways that God helps us find our calling and the unique way we can give to others and how it is all grace.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story struck me as a little odd, but the illustrations are really great. The opening scene of the farm in the desert struck me as looking just like the surroundings of my niece Kristin's home in Arizona. The desert landscape is so stark and beautiful in its own way.

I liked the play on gift given/received. Also appreciated the glossary of desert animals!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

1.Five to eight year old's.
2. Alejandro is a farmer that lives on a lonely desert rode, who rarely has visitors. He plants a plentiful garden and encounters a visitor,a squirrel who then brings his friends. However, news travels to Alejandro that the animals do not have a sufficient supply of water he quickly gets to work helping build a water hole. Once created the animals were no longer in fear. They were extremely grateful for Alejandro. In turn, Alejandro was not lonely anymore, for he had his animal friends to keep him company.
3. The illustrations in the book capture the readers attention. I personally like this book for the information located in the back. The information gives a detailed description on many plants an animals located in the desert. I also like the moral taught in the story.
4. This book can be used to expose children to desert animals and plants. In addition, children get to learn a great life lesson regarding being a good person and helping animals without looking for anything in return.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully and colorfully illustrated children's book in large soft cover. An older man lives alone in the desert with his donkey. He has a house, donkey shelter, and water. He's lonely and decides to plant a vegetable garden, which he irrigates. Soon animals are visiting his garden for a drink. He builds a water hole for the animals but finds they aren't coming to his new creation. Then he realizes it's too close to the house and the larger animals are afraid, so he digs a new water hole further from the house, surrounded by desert growth. Soon all the animals find this new watering hole and come. Alejandro no longer feels so alone, and the small critters still come to his garden. There are two pages of illustrations of desert animals and plants, including their habits. It's educational and the illustrations are superb.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting look at life in the desert, as well as a tale about a lonely man who finds company in nature. The illustrations are lovely and complement the story nicely. We borrowed this book from our local library as part of a kit with an audiocassette. We enjoyed listening to the tape narrated by Rene Gonzalez as we followed along with the book. The back of the book also has some interesting facts about the various animals depicted in the story, which live in the American Southwest.

[Elizabeth Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alejandro is 60 and lives in a small house by an isolated dirt road. His only friend is a burro. He tends his garden. One day a squirrel approaches the garden to drink and is followed by rats, gophers, rabbits, mice, roadrunners, and woodpeckers. Alejandro enjoys his new friends. However, he realizes that they come to him for water not company. This text shows his emptiness in his life. He understands his relationship with the land. Beautiful illistrations.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Reading Rainbow book; when I checked it out from the library I realized it was to 'old' for my granddaughter (although she is advanced for her age) but instead of just returning it I read it myself. This was a very nice book of a lonely man trying to find friendship in the environment around him. But in the end the gift he thought he was giving away actually was a gift being returned to himself. A sweet 'giving back to the environment without being in your face' book.

[Rebecca Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information in the back is very interesting because a lot of people don't know what types of animals live in a desert. The story itself is an alright one you could read on a break after lunch or recess. I like the fact that it teaches kids people do not like to be lonely. The picture were captivating as well. It was cute.

[Amanda Hively · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. Older students would really enjoy how informational this book is. It has a story but gives good information along with it. The illustrations are not very bright but there is still a lot that catches my attention. In the back of the book there is a list of the animals that are in the book, this is a great tool for students. They can continue learning after the book is over.

[Dalene]

I found this book on Teresa Demille's shelf. The title is what caught my attention as it appears it may be a multicultural book and I love reading about other cultures. It is described as a lesson in giving which is also a plus in my book!

[Abbi Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't express how much I enjoyed this book! A lonely man in the desert builds an irrigation system to bring nature and animals around his home. It's great for talking about weather, deserts, climates, and desert animals and plants.