Winner of the 2009 IPPY Bronze Award.  The Little Saguaro/El sahuarito is a heartfelt story about life’s joys and challenges, as revealed in a converstion between a mother saguaro and her daughter.  As this intimate story unfolds, the exuberant life of the Sonoran Desert literally swirls around the giant cacti.  Readers learn about human struggles and emotions, while at the same time being charmed by the variety of fascinating desert plants and animals captured in exquisite watercolor art.  Engaging information about desert ecosystems included at the back of the book will be useful for teachers, parents and curriculum specialists.

Illustrated by Kim Duffek, a member of the Botany staff at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum who pursues wildlife art as her other career.