Cactus and Flower: A Book About Life Cycles

by Sarah Williamson

This bright, gentle, thoughtful picture book explores friendship and natural life cycles for readers young and old
 
Cactus and Flower spend their days in the desert, side by side.
They watch the sun come up; they watch the sun go down. They play with their animal friends. And they grow, slowly but surely. Then one day, Flower loses a petal.
Cactus and Flower know what this means. But they know, too, that this is the way life goes: Slowly but surely, petals will fall, and new buds will bloom.
 

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Friendship, Science

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2020

About the author

Sarah Williamson was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She studied political philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and illustration at Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Shortly after graduating from Art Center she moved to New York to pursue illustration. She has done many illustrations for the New York Times among other clients and also fills in at the New York Times as a freelance art director. Follow her on Instagram at @sarahewilliamson or find her online at www.sarahwilliamson.com.

Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

CACTUS AND FLOWER is a picture book about friendship, loss, and grief. Cactus loves flower as they spend all their time together. One day, flower leaves, and cactus is sad and cannot be comforted- even by all the butterflies. The next spring, a bud appears and a new flower blooms. Cactus is happy once again with his new friend.

What I loved: The text in this book is relatively simple, and the pictures are full of color and are quite beautiful. This book also handles death and grief when flower dies, pointing out the life cycle. Flower's life is short, and it is replaced by a new flower the next blooming season.

What left me wanting more: I wanted a little bit more in terms of handling the grief, assuming that this was one of the main themes of the book. Either that or I would have liked to see how flower left a seed which could become a new cactus- something to take one of the themes a bit further.

Final verdict: Colorful and with life cycle messages, CACTUS AND FLOWER is a book of loss and change. Could be helpful for children who are dealing with loss.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful gouache illustrations make up for what this story lacks, such as a sensible rationale for the saguaro’s sorrow. The insects and wildlife that make their home in and around the saguaro (pictured on pages 7 and 8) would provide plenty of friends to keep the cactus company until the blossom reappears during “butterfly days.” That owl looks curious. Though Javelina might be a bit prickly, Roadrunner and Woodpecker seem friendly enough, not to mention Rabbit, Tortoise, and Lizard. And all of those animals could be described along with their habitat, providing an interesting way to introduce kids to the desert fauna that love saguaros.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an alright book. I liked the way it described death, the change of weather (sun), and about the life cycle of a cactus and its flowers. The illustrations have bold colors and the cactus and its flower are cute.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I loved this one because it was about friends. I like flowers too. I felt sad when the first flower went away, but it’s kind of happy that a new flower came, even though it wasn’t the same one” - Lucas

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

life cycle, desert bloom

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bright, sweet friendship story introduces the concept of life cycles.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cutely-illustrated anthropomorphized cactus and flower are friends until the predictable happens.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a cute book that talks about the circle of life and how beautiful the desert can be.