Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park

by Lori Alexander (Author) Jenn Ely (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
How did the Joshua Tree National Park in California come to be? Meet Minerva Hamilton Hoyt, an artist, activist, and environmentalist, whose determination saved the desert and helped to create the park, in this STEAM picture book.

Long before she became known as the Cactus Queen, Minerva Hamilton Hoyt found solace in the unexpected beauty of the Mojave Desert in California. She loved the jackrabbits and coyotes, the prickly cacti, and especially the weird, spiky Joshua trees.

However, in the 1920s, hardly anyone else felt the same way. The desert was being thoughtlessly destroyed by anyone and everyone. Minerva knew she needed to bring attention to the problem. With the help of her gardening club, taxidermists, and friends, she took the desert east and put its plants and animals on display. The displays were a hit, but Minerva needed to do much more: she wanted to have the desert recognized as a national park. Although she met with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and won him over, Minerva still had to persuade politicians, scientists, teachers, and others to support her cause. And, it worked! Minerva’s efforts led to what came to be known as Joshua Tree National Park in California, and saved hundreds of thousands of plants and animals. Now, the millions of people who visit each year have learned to love the desert, just as Minerva did.
Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

A rousing tale about the rescuer of California’s famed desert.

Review quotes

"This picture-book biography introduces young readers to the conservation efforts of Hoyt, focusing mainly on her life after the death of her husband in 1918...Ely's cozy gouache illustrations...depict both Hoyt's plucky spirit and the majesty of the high desert landscape." —The Horn Book
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781662680212
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Calkins Creek Books
Publication date
March 05, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
JNF037020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Conservation & Protection
JNF025260 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | Symbols, Monuments, National Parks, Etc.
Library of Congress categories
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