Alejandro's Gift

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Richard E. Albert & Sylvia Long

Albert wrote pulp westerns in the mid-20th century before his architectural career. At the age of 83, Albert wrote this first children's book for his great-grandchildren.

Long, a fine artist who also illustrates children's books, uses ink and watercolor to detail the desert and its animals in Alejandro's Gift. The work is stunningly beautiful and engaging for children and adults alike.

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World Context

Every time I read Alejandro's Gift there is something new to notice or learn in the story and illustrations. It's a simple story about boredom, loneliness, and hard work, as well as what happens when you think of and work for others.

Beyond the development of positive character traits, the story also describes many desert animals and the importance of access to water which is essential when we think about climate change.

Alejandro's Gift was featured on  LeVar Burton's Reading Rainbow in 1995.

Suddenly, Alejandro found that time was passing more quickly. He was rarely lonely. He had only to look up from his hoe, or from wherever he might be at any moment, to find a small friend nearby. For a while this was all that mattered to Alejandro, but after a time he wasn't so sure. He began asking himself if there was something more important than just making himself less lonely. It took Alejandro little time to see there was.

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Synopsis

Alejandro is lonely. He lives in the desert with only a burro for company and begins a garden to pass the time. Alejandro's work brings more company than he anticipated.

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Learning Connections

Geography, Southwestern United States
Desert biome
Desert wildlife
Climate

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Ages: 3 - 12 , Grades: pre-school - 5th grade, 26 pages. Planting a garden with a water hole in the desert creates unexpected friends.

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