by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 03, 2010

Richard E. Albert was 83 years old when he wrote "Alejandro's Gift" - and according to the book's jacket, he'd started his career as a writer of "pulp Westerns". But he'd taken a 30-year hiatus to raise his family, before creating a very special story. The book's only character is also an old man, and he lives all alone in the desert. But soon he has a memorable encounter with the animals that live there too.

"Alejandro's small adobe house stood beside a lonely desert road," the book begins, adding that his only companion is a burro. No one comes down the road to visit, so Alejandro plants a garden filled with vegetables "to more easily endure the lonely hours." And then one morning, Alejandro receives an unexpected visitor. It's a wary ground squirrel, creeping out from the underbrush.

The book's illustrations (by Sylvia Long) offer surprisingly detailed color sketches of Alejandro, his garden, and the desert. All the details are inspired by the illustrator's love of animals and the outdoors (according to the book's jacket). She captures the squirrel's timid personality as it hesitantly holds up one paw and sniffs the tomatoes. And soon she's drawing more vegetables in the garden - and more visiting creatures from the desert.

Soon there's gophers visiting the garden, along with rabbits and birds. And Albert does a good job of describing the scene, using words suggesting the exotic beauty of the desert. "Cactus wrens, sage sparrows, mourning doves, and others came in the evening to perch on the branches of a mesquite bush," he writes, "or to rest on the arms of a lone saguaro, before dropping down for a quick drink before nightfall."

"Occasionally, even an old desert tortoise could be seen plodding toward the garden..."

Alejandro now describes the creatures as "small friends". And there's even larger animals out in the desert, which Alejandro sits and contemplates thoughtfully. Albert lists out 10 different animals, and Long contributes a wonderful illustration showing them all - including bobcats, coyotes, and mule deer. The last page of the book even includes a glossary of 26 different desert species!

Alejandro decides to do a favor for the animals, and digs them a special watering hole. It's hard work in the desert sun, but it also gives the old man a warm feeling. Unfortunately, the animals don't come. Alejandro realizes he must build another watering hole - but this time one that's sheltered from the sight of his adobe house. He won't see the animals visiting, but he'll know that they're there.

By the twitter of birds at dusk, and the animals rustling through the mesquite...

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