Elspeth Lorraine

I’ve found a super cute STEAM picture book with fun illustrations and the type of learning that sneaks in and feels easy. The Cactus Queen is the true story of Minerva Hoyt saving the desert in California. When Minerva and her husband moved to CA in 1897, she fell in love with the wild landscape. When her husband passed she started spending more time in the desert getting to know the topography and the animals that lived there.

But she soon noticed how poorly the land was being treated. People were digging up plants including the Joshua Tree to take home as decor. If they got lost while driving they would simply light a Joshua Tree on fire (This blew my mind. Side note, why are humans awful. Not a question, just a statement.) to get a better idea of where the road was. Minerva knew she had to do something. She started taking certain flora and fauna around to shows in New York, Boston and London to exhibit the uniqueness of the desert and why it needed protection. She went to the White House and told President Roosevelt that the desert needed help. He was like “Slay queen yassss” (Ok I don’t know what he said exactly because we haven't met but I assume it was similar.) and sent an inspector to check out the land and make it official. All her hard work paid off and she got Joshua Tree established as a national park. Good job, Minerva! 

Bits and Pieces: The illustrations were done in mostly acryla gouache, with some smaller bits of colored pencil and collage. And you will love them! The back matter is rich with details about Minerva’s life and quest to save Joshua Tree. I do wish we had a photo of the real Minerva in those cool power pants from the cover. 

Not Sure About: I am scared of camping so the thought of Minerva camping alone in the desert gave me chills. Scorpions live in the desert, Minerva!!

Favorite Part: Lori does a lovely job sharing facts and history without making you feel like you’re being taught something. I chafe against preachy picture books and this could have easily been that, but it absolutely was not!