The Christmassy Cactus

by Beth Ferry, A. N. Kang (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

The days of not associating cacti with Christmas are over. With this adorable picture book about a cactus who just wants to be part of the festiviites, we have yet another reason for the season.

Bestselling author Beth Ferry of Stick and Stone and The Scarecrow is back with an irresistible holiday picture book.

Tiny Cactus loves Christmas!

But she doesn’t love that her little girl seems to be spending more time with the giant sparkly tree in the living room than with her. Maybe if she were decorated like the Christmas tree, her little girl would notice her again.

And so Tiny Cactus makes a wish—to be special, to be noticed, to be a part of the magic of Christmas. With the support of her friend and some Christmas magic, Tiny Cactus learns that wishes can come true if you believe hard enough.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063334342
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/12/2023
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Beth Ferry is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous picture books, including Stick and Stone, The Scarecrow, and The Nice Dream Truck. She lives with her family in New Jersey.

A. N. Kang is a Korean-born designer who started her career designing giftware, jewelry, and greeting cards. Later she also designed holiday installations all over New York City. She debuted as an author and illustrator with her picture book The Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon. Her main source of inspiration is her love of animals. It’s her dream to rescue injured baby wild animals like owls and penguins or any animals that would tolerate her constant hugs and kisses. A. N. Kang can be found online at annakangdesign.com.

Editorial Reviews

Little readers will be delighted by the holiday magic …This succulent successfully steals the spotlight from the ever-present evergreens.  — Kirkus Reviews

Kang’s enchanting illustrations are perfect for young children. An excellent addition to a holiday collection. — School Library Journal (starred review)

The spiky protagonist makes a holiday wish, which remains ungranted through Christmas Day—until nature delivers a wondrous surprise. Kang uses charcoal, pencil, ink, and digital techniques to create soft digital renderings that emphasize creamy reds and greens, helping this empathetic portrait to blossom. — Publishers Weekly

[A friendly-looking prickly pear cactus] doesn't get her desired decorations, [and] something magical happens that allows her to feel quite festive and part of the holiday, along with the loving family. — Booklist

The text’s simple, vivid descriptors evoke the infectious bustle of holiday traditions. The reds and greens of Christmas decor within this family’s pink-hued household, shown on creamy, off-white pages, increase the coziness. — Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

2023-08-12
Tiny Cactus eagerly anticipates Christmas—and wishes for some holiday decorations of her own.

Sitting snugly on a bookshelf, Tiny Cactus is especially treasured by her little girl. When she notices all the Christmas decorations coming out, Tiny Cactus is excited for her turn to be covered in tinsel and sparkles. Christmas Day arrives, but Tiny Cactus still doesn’t have any holiday decor. After a pep talk from her friend—an elephant-shaped teapot—and a little holiday magic, she gets some surprising trimmings of her very own. Tiny Cactus has sweetly human characteristics: pink cheeks, expressive eyes, and little legs below her flowerpot. The muted illustrations are dominated by pale grays, various shades of green, and many pops of pink. One particularly stunning image shows the Christmas tree, lights off, still glowing in the moonlight through the nearby window. Little readers will be delighted by the holiday magic and the way that Tiny Cactus ultimately gets her decorations. Evergreen trees are usually the stars of the season, but this unique cactus makes a creative focus for this story. Children will be pleased to learn that the Christmas cactus is a real houseplant; after reading this charming tale, many will be clamoring for one of their own. The little girl and her family are drawn with light brown skin and puffy dark hair.(This book was reviewed digitally.)

This succulent successfully steals the spotlight from the ever-present evergreens. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews