Clementina's Cactus

Book Review:

Ezra Jack Keats does a wonderful job portraying a little girl's adventure in this beautifully illustrated picture book. This wordless wonder depicts a young girl, Clementina, on a journey through a desert landscape with her father. On her expedition, she stumbles upon a beautiful cactus, which sparks her interests. However, a terrible thunderstorm cuts their exploration short, and they are forced to leave the desolate wildlife for safety. When she returns afterward, she is awestruck with what she finds.

Keats uses a combination of collage and painting in vivid color. Although Clementina's Cactus offers no story in the form of text, the wonderfully illustrated pictures offer more than enough story for the imagination. Children will enjoy creating their own text, oral or written, from the appealing illustrations.

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