El saguaro

A child grows like the saguaro cacti that nourish the lives around him, knowing even the tallest cactus was once small, too.

Abuelo tells his grandson that as hard as it is to imagine, the saguaro cacti that tower over the family rancho were once tiny seeds in the ground. It takes half a century to grow one spiky arm, decades more for the flowers to bloom. It takes help from hummingbirds, coyotes and shady trees.

The oldest saguaros have seen how children are like seeds, too. One day, the same cacti that saw Abuelo grow up will see his grandchild follow in his footsteps, and beyond. The seeds once planted will bear miraculous fruit.

Pura Belpré Honoree Laekan Zea Kemp honors Chicane roots in this meditative story of family legacy and boundless potential. Vibrantly illustrated by Gaby D'Alessandro, Saguaro is as grounding and lovely as the flowering desert guardians themselves.