Alejandro's Gift

The best thing about this book is that it's TRUE: maybe not in terms of a particular individual but in terms of the ideas it portrays (that you have to accept nature as it is and work with it to get what you want, and that humans can learn to do so) and in terms of human and animal behavior--the characters act just as they would if you met them in real life. The illustrations add a great deal of verisimilitude to the story, especially with the glossary at the end. Excellent job!

"Alejandro's Gift" combines a story by Richard E. Albert with illustrations by Sylvia Long. Together they tell the story of Alejandro, a man who lives in an adobe house beside a lonely desert road. His only companion is a burro.When Alejandro plants a vegetable garden, his home is soon visited by small animals who drink from his irrigation furrows. Delighted by the appearance of these creatures, Alejandro conceives a project on a slightly larger scale.The realistic illustrations of this book are full of life. The animals and plants, as well as Alejandro himself, are captured beautifully. Alejandro's gentleness, thoughtful nature, and hard-working spirit are wonderfully brought to life. The pictures and text together offer a good message about respect for nature.The book ends with a short "mini-encyclopedia" that names and illustrates animals and plants of the southwestern United States: mesquite, saguaro cactus, the sage sparrow, the collared peccary, and more. An educational and heartwarming book.

Alejandro is lonley living in the desert. By accident, he learns that if he plants a garden, animals come for the water and shade and Alejandro's lonliness is lessened.But later, Alejandro learns that gifts given (the garden) makes the gifts received (the company) all the more sweeter."Alejandro's Gift" is a quiet book - no need for funny voices or wild antics. It makes a great bed time story or a great "snuggle with your kids on a rainy day" book.This can also provide a nice way to discuss nature and preservation with your children.There are lots of interesting things to look at in the illustrations. I read this to a group of school agers and they all enjoyed looking at the pictures and trying to identify all the different animals. We live far away from any desert, so many of these animals were unfamiliar to us.This is a good book and I definitly recommend it.

Our children love this book. They have learned to appreciate the nature that is around them every day. An understanding of things that are not wild (the garden) and the things that are wild in the desert/ your backyard. This year our 3 year old has planted Alejandro's garden, so the wild nature would come to vist. Sunflowers, lettuce, beans and carrots. So far we have enjoyed the birds, bees and butterflies, but we are waiting for the wild ones.An easy read for 1-5 year olds that may peak their interest in the outdoors. By the way, make sure you are in shape Alejandro's spirit likes BIG gardens.