Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Tree Tales)

Average customer rating:

Very educational

Not your ordinary desert book

This book was full of wonderful pictures and information

Our third grade class loved your book.

Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Tree Tales)
Barbara Bash
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (Juv Pap)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Nonfiction | Flowers & Plants | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0316083070

Book Description

A story about the mighty saguaro cactus. < BR>

Customer Reviews:

Very educational.......2007-08-25

This book is very educational to use in a classroom or an education focused day camp and is not an easy read as a story book at bedtime.

Not your ordinary desert book.......2004-05-12

We have been reading many different desert books for a unit study. It seemed that we kept running across the same old information in every book. Then we read this one! It tells you things that you just don't find in other books. This turned out to be our favorite book. The pictures are wonderful and it is easily understandable by young children, thought adults will learn a thing or two as well! Highly recommended.

This book was full of wonderful pictures and information.......2003-03-30

I have used this book every year as a third grade teacher. It is wonderful as a read aloud for science to illustrate how animals and plants adapt to their environment and rely on other plants and animals for survival. This is one of the best books I have ever read to my class because it is not dull science jargon but presented as the story of the life of the cactus. Don't miss this one for teaching and learning about life science in the desert.

Our third grade class loved your book........1999-11-03

Our third grade loved your book. It gave us a lot of information about the desert. The illustrations were excellent. We especilly liked the use of author techniques such as diagrams, onomatopeias, catchy title and colorful illustrations. We would love to contact Barbara Bash.

Average customer rating:

Excellent!
A colorful and engaging story

The Seed and the Giant Saguaro
Jennifer Ward
Manufacturer: Rising Moon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0873588452

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2003-12-23

This book, written in playful rhyme, chronicles how a "seed so black and tiny" travels through the desert and eventually takes root in the earth, growing into a giant sanguaro.

Helping along the way is a packrat who carries the fruit which contains the seeds "with a great deal of worry." Why? Because he was being chased by a "snake that slid with no sound" who, by the way, is being followed by a "bird that raced on the ground" who is . . . well, you get the picture.

The double-page spreads-done in rich greens, purples, golds, and yellows-illustrate the desert flora and fauna wonderfully. Readers will enjoy the discovering the clever details found throughout the book.

The author has included a "timeline" of how saguaros grow in the Sonoran Desert in addition to a page of "Fun Facts" about the creatures mentioned in the story. Did you know, for example, that coyotes can "dash" up to 30 miles per hour!

This fun read-aloud was a huge hit in every classroom in which we reviewed it. The text's repeating rhyme, written in the style of "This is the House That Jack Built," allowed students the opportunity to predict what the speaker was going to say.

In addition to being used as an engaging tale for storytime, it can also be used to build phonemic awareness and to enrich social studies units on deserts, plants, and more. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis staff.

A colorful and engaging story.......2003-11-17

The collaborative effort of author Jennifer Ward and illustrator Mike K. Ranger, The Seed And The Giant Saguaro is an absorbing picture book about how a variety of desert animals contribute to the planting, growth, and life of a Giant Saguaro cactus. The narrative is written in a "This is the house that Jack built" style, with each new page spread adding another line to the saga of the cactus' rise from a little seed. A colorful and engaging story, The Seed And The Giant Saguaro is especially appropriate for children ages 3 to 6.

Average customer rating:

FANTASTIC guide to a fascinating desert plant

Saguaro: The Desert Giant
Anna Humphreys , and Susan Lowell
Manufacturer: Rio Nuevo Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1887896309

Book Description

Ask a child to draw a picture of a cactus, and the result will probably look like a saguaro. Indeed, mass media have made this denizen of the Sonoran Desert universally recognizable, and perhaps just as misunderstood. In Saguaros: Desert Giants, Anna Humphreys and Susan Lowell share true stories about this amazing, anthropomorphic cactus that are at least as intriguing as the folklore. A saguaro can grow to be a towering fifty feet or more and live for as long as two centuries. During rainy seasons, a large saguaro can soak up literally hundreds of gallons of water in its expandable, accordion-folded trunk and arms. For uncounted generations, the Tohono O'odham people in Arizona have harvested the sweat saguaro fruits to make syrup and wine. Profusely illustrated with contemporary and historic photographs and other artwork, Saguaros: Desert Giants celebrates these iconic cacti while arguing that the need to preserve their critical Sonoran Desert habitat is more pressing now than ever.

Customer Reviews:

FANTASTIC guide to a fascinating desert plant.......2002-06-15

It's hard to say what the appeal of the saguaro cactus is exactly, but perhaps it is the way people relate to them. Their branches are referred to as arms; the young plants are called babies; and they live under nurse plants as seedlings. More than just being anthropomorphic, these giant cactuses are the true emblem of the spectacular Sonoran Desert. Across the country (far from their tiny growth region), the saguaro is a powerful symbol of the American Southwest. This book is a perfect blend of accurate scientific information and entertaining cultural anecdotes from the mother and daughter author team. It is jam-packed with useful facts, and all are attractively displayed in this beautiful book. The art is as precise and engaging as the well-written text. Definitely a worthy investment!

Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Scholastic Book Guides, Grades K-2)

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Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Scholastic Book Guides, Grades K-2)

Manufacturer: Scholastic Teaching Resources
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0439571367

Product Description

Time-Saving Tools for Reading Success *Book Summary and Author Information *Vocabulary Builders *Comprehension/Discussion Questions *Graphic Organizers and Writing Activities *Effective Management Ideas

Life on a Giant Cactus (Good Earth Books)

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Life on a Giant Cactus (Good Earth Books)
Patricia Lauber
Manufacturer: Garrard Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Botany | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Deserts | Ecosystems | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0811661016

Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus

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Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus
Barbara Bash
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (Juv)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OU72XO

Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Reading Rainbow Book)

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Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Reading Rainbow Book)
Barbara Bash
Manufacturer: Scholastic, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0590459449

A teaching guide for Desert giant: the world of the saguaro cactus by Barbara Bash (Informational innovations)

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A teaching guide for Desert giant: the world of the saguaro cactus by Barbara Bash (Informational innovations)
Sandra Markle
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This new paddling guide to Florida's 10,000 Islands and Big Cypress region features trips for canoes and kayaks.

This new guide features saltwater paddling tours in the northern and central 10,000 Islands, as well as a handful of freshwater tours in the Big Cypress Swamp. Trips emanate out of multiple put-ins and take-outs, including Rookery Bay Estuarine Reserve (Marco Island), Goodland, Port of the Islands, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Everglades City, and Big Cypress National Preserve.

Each trip described in this new guide will include information on distance, difficulty, recommended charts, and navigational features, as well as discussing winds, tides, and safety issues. The author also discusses natural and historical features, estuarine and mangrove ecology, and local wildlife. Finally, he provides information on equipment, outfitters, supplies, rentals, and recommendations for low-impact paddling. 35 black & white photographs, index.

Customer Reviews:

So far, so good.......2006-04-19

I live in Naples, FL. I recently started kayaking and bought two kayaks about a month ago. I've done about 8 of the trails in this book and I make it back in one piece after each trip. I feel well prepared for each trip and I take the book with me as back-up since I seem to gravitate toward the more difficult trips. I am thouroughly enjoying this book. Certainly worth the money.

Day-tripping guide to northwestern Everglades.......2004-02-01

I bought this book on the recommendation of a park ranger at the Big Cypress National Preserve Visitor Center. The content is quite specific, covering only trips of 14 or fewer miles and only those in the northwestern Everglades region, starting on Marco Island at the north end of 10,000 Islands and ending at Chokoloskee on the south end. Both fresh and saltwater routes are included, both loop trails and those requiring a shuttle; the author claims to have paddled them all.

Because the book is limited in scope, the trip descriptions have more detail than other more inclusive guides to the Everglades. The author, a photographer, has an interest in the natural history of the area and so provides commentary on the flora and fauna the paddler can expect to encounter. In my opinion this is one of the book's strengths. For example, in the Introduction, there is a nearly-2-pages-long description of the mangrove trees that populate the area.

The book divides the region into 7 areas, for example, trips beginning (or ending) off the Tamiami Trail. A 1-page map with marked route is provided for each trip. Also provided are trip highlights, recommended charts and maps for navigation, trip rating (easy, moderate, difficult), estimated total time, total distance, hazards, launch site, trail ownership, and alternate routes. At the end of the book an appendix gives addresses and contact information on government agencies, food and lodging providers, campgrounds, guide and boat rental services, and suggested further reading.

I have paddled 2 of the shorter trails covered in this book, the Sandfly Island loop and the Halfway Creek to Everglades City route. Information on distances and directions to put-ins seem to be accurate. (Paddling distances are given in nautical miles, land distances in statute miles.) Total times seem to be on the long side, but of course these will vary depending on type of boat used, wind and tidal conditions, and individual paddling style. My only other quibble with the book is that criteria used for the trip ratings are not explained.

Overall, I feel this book is a useful addition to the library of paddling guides to the Everglades, particularly for those interested in natural history. And, having just been released in January 2004, it provides current information on which trails have navigation markers.

Book Description

In Lincoln's Constitution Daniel Farber leads the reader to understand exactly how Abraham Lincoln faced the inevitable constitutional issues brought on by the Civil War. Examining what arguments Lincoln made in defense of his actions and how his words and deeds fit into the context of the times, Farber illuminates Lincoln's actions by placing them squarely within their historical moment. The answers here are crucial not only for a better understanding of the Civil War but also for shedding light on issues-state sovereignty, presidential power, and limitations on civil liberties in the name of national security-that continue to test the limits of constitutional law even today.

Customer Reviews:

If you think Dubya should be impeached..........2007-07-11

REad this book. It will make you realize that some President's have gone much farther in their goal to make America safe and protect the Constitution. Of course Lincoln's example may not always be the best guide to PResidential actions.

An interesting read with some problems.......2005-01-08

My actual rating would be 3.5 if possible because the book is somewhere between good and very good. I've long been interested in the relationship between the Civil War and the Constitution. At its base the Civil War was a constitutional struggle between two ideologies: the compact theory and the popular theory of the nature of the Constitution. Ultimately this conflict could not be resolved through politics and war became necessary.

The best part of Farber's book is the first half dealing with secession. Farber examines the debate over states' rights and ultimately secession from the Founding up to the actual secession of 1860. By doing this, Farber shows that both sides of the debate had valid historical support for their theories, though he personally sides with Lincoln. All in all, this section provides a clear, concise presentation of secession and its history.

My problem with this book comes from Farber's intent to retroactively validate the constitutionality of Lincoln's presidential power. Lincoln used presidential power in unprecedented ways. Farber notes that the exercise of presidential power had been practically non-existent, with Jackson being the only user of it in a significant manner, and, even then, it did not approach Lincoln's actions. Farber presents Lincoln's theories and support that he gave for his actions, but he goes further and uses subsequent development in executive power to validate most of Lincoln's actions. The problem with this is that in many ways it was the experience under Lincoln that shaped our evolving understanding of executive authority. For example, the three cases from the late 19th century were clearly influenced by Lincoln and the Civil War experience. Farber quotes from Jackson's Youngstown concurrence, but he should consider Frankfurter's opinion. Frankfurter noted that our understanding of the war and presidential powers have been substantially influenced by historical development and political understandings outside of Court opinions. Fundamentally, our understanding of the president's power starts with Lincoln and using subsequent developments built upon Lincoln's actions to validate those actions is akin to using the Equal Protection Clause to retroactively validate the Emancipation Proclamation.

In its entirety, I found the book thought-provoking. It provides an interesting presentation of the constitutional issues involved in the Civil War and Farber supports his position compellingly, though I find holes in some of it.

Highly Recommended.......2003-09-27

The Civil War was, at its heart, a constitutional struggle. Although it was fought out on bloody battlefields, the causes for which the opposing armies risked their lives were starkly different views of fundamental legal principles. As the war raged on, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis came to symbolize the two sides of the constitutional debate, but their voices were only parts of a great chorus that, at various times, included Hamilton and Jefferson, Wilson and Madison, Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Jackson, Douglas, and even the irresolute James Buchanan. The overriding constitutional question, of course, was whether a state could lawfully secede from the Union. But this great question was intertwined with other fundamental questions: Did the Constitution create a national government for the benefit of "the people of the United States" or a mere league or compact of independent states? To what extent did the Constitution protect slavery and slave owners against the anti-slavery agitation of northerners? What action, if any, could the United States government (and particularly its chief executive) properly take in response to the military challenge of secession?
Farber addresses all these questions, and many more. He is a legal scholar with impressive credentials. More than that, he is a historian who understands the importance of using history in constitutional interpretation. In seeking answers to the thorny constitutional problems expressed in the war, he weighs the contrary arguments, explores their strengths and weaknesses, and offers nuanced analyses. He believes, for example, that the South's claim to the right of secession was wrong, but that it was not a frivolous claim. He believes that Lincoln's responses to the war were, on the whole, firmly within his constitutional authority, although he did occasionally stray into unconstitutional action. The remarkable fact about Lincoln's conduct of the war, Farber believes, is that the President was able to maintain a sense of perspective. He clearly saw that "the times demanded extraordinary measures," but he did not forget that "the long-term goal was not merely to crush the rebellion but to save the nation as a bastion of liberty."
Many academics are, to put it kindly, miserable writers who cannot escape the straight-jackets of narrowly departmentalized thinking and crabbed professional jargon. Farber is a refreshing exception. He writes clearly, concisely, and gracefully. His prose should be a model for all academic writers.
It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a book so much. I highly recommend "Lincoln's Constitution" to all who seek a greater understanding of the great legal principles that lay just below the surface of the bloodiest war in American history.

Popular legal history at its best.......2003-06-18

"Lincoln's Constitution" first examines the Constitution as Lincoln found it at the beginning of his administration, with emphasis on state - federal relations, including the right of secession. Like most modern legal scholars, Prof. Faber clearly sides with Lincoln on this (and most other constitutional issues), but he is also careful to show that believers in states' rights and secession had good historical reasons for their views. With this background, the author then examines the Constitutional issues Lincoln faced in dealing with the unprecedented challenge of waging the Civil War. Here the focus shifts to presidential war powers and civil liberties in time of war. The author points out where Lincoln was right (in light of later precedents) and where he was wrong. Again, the views of both his supporters and his critics are fully examined. Finally, Faber clearly explains the relevance of all these issues for citizens of our own time.
Authoritative, up-to-date and balanced, "Lincoln's Constitution" is an essential supplement to J.G. Randall's classic (but now dated) "Constitutional Problems Under Lincoln."

Great Book, but heavy history.......2003-05-13

Being interested in the legality of Lincoln calling on troops to supress a domestic and not a foreign threat is appealing to me, since it was, what I thought, a violation of the powers of the presidency. Grabbing this, I thought it might bring aboveboard his actions. The title is somewhat deceieving in that the first 4 1/2 chapters discuss the founding fathers and their ideaology on various presidential powers and states' rights: intriguing to read, but way too much history of the constitutional debates. Finishing the book, I came to realize this was the author's way of defending his conclusions: that Lincoln did not abuse his powers and acted within the bounderies of constitutional law (though the last chapter discussing Lincoln's enfringement on Free Speech is hard to swallow as legal.) Still a fascinating read on the topic of constitutional power,that is just as important today as it was then.

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Argentina (World in View)
Nick Caistor
Manufacturer: Steck-Vaughn Library Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Central & South America | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Brazil (World in View)
Moyra Ashford
Manufacturer: Steck-Vaughn Library Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Central & South America | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0811424367

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Central America (World in View)
Marion Morrison
Manufacturer: Heinemann Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

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History on the Move: Views, Interviews and Essays on Armenian Issues

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History on the Move: Views, Interviews and Essays on Armenian Issues
Edmond Y. Azadian
Manufacturer: Wayne State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Mesoamerican Sites and World-Views: Conference at Dumbarton Oaks, October 16 and 17, 1976

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Mesoamerican Sites and World-Views: Conference at Dumbarton Oaks, October 16 and 17, 1976

Manufacturer: Genealogical Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0884020975

World in View Series: Argentina/Australia/Brazil/Canada/Central America/China/Cuba/Ecuador/Peru and Bolivia/Egypt/England/Frnace/Germany/Greece/Hong

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World in View Series: Argentina/Australia/Brazil/Canada/Central America/China/Cuba/Ecuador/Peru and Bolivia/Egypt/England/Frnace/Germany/Greece/Hong

Manufacturer: Raintree Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9996763579

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Central America (World in View)
Marion Morrison
Manufacturer: Heinemann Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities: Aerial Views of Precolumbian Ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras

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Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities: Aerial Views of Precolumbian Ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras
William M. Ferguson , and Richard E. W. Adams
Manufacturer: Univ Pr of Colorado
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0870815857

Book Description

A zoologist might classify Italian design objects in various ways, distinguishing between species that are capable of flight (the Vespa "Wasp" scooter, the Heron lamp), of living aqueous lives (the Dolphin armchair, the jellyfish-like Medusa lamp), and of existing on terra firma (the Grillo "Cricket" telephone, the mouse-sized Topolino automobile). Alternately, one could catalog these all-but-inanimate objects in terms of the fictional creatures they evoke (the Moby Dick chair, Bruno Munari's Meo Romeo cat). This zoophilic trend in Italian design is neither an accidental nor an occasional element, nor need it be seen as some beastial obsession. On the contrary, it is a complex symbolic mechanism that repopulates domestic interiors with a little bit of the animal world that has been chased from our homes and neighborhoods. The presence of these experimental designs in an otherwise animal-free home helps it come to life as a virtual zoo, thus helping us to remember always: It's a zoo out there.

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