Richard E. Albert (–1999)

A beautifully and colorfully illustrated children's book in large soft cover. An older man lives alone in the desert with his donkey. He has a house, donkey shelter, and water. He's lonely and decides to plant a vegetable garden, which he irrigates. Soon animals are visiting his garden for a drink. He builds a water hole for the animals but finds they aren't coming to his new creation. Then he realizes it's too close to the house and the larger animals are afraid, so he digs a new water hole further from the house, surrounded by desert growth. Soon all the animals find this new watering hole and come. Alejandro no longer feels so alone, and the small critters still come to his garden. There are two pages of illustrations of desert animals and plants, including their habits. It's educational and the illustrations are superb.… (mais)