When games didn’t go as he thought they should go, Spike’s needles would sharpen; his anger would grow.
A Saguaro's Guide to Growing Up
Spike Learns
A prickly saguaro learns that big feelings can soften — and that his needles were never the problem.
Written and illustrated by Rebecca Gassett, RN, MS, CPNP-PC
Inside the first book
Spike Learns to Soften
The jackrabbits scurried, the quails flew away, “Spike is too prickly!” the desert would say.
A question to talk about
Can you remember a time you felt “prickly” and said something mean?
“Your needles are feelings,” the Woodpecker said, “They grow when you’re worried or heat fills your head.
“Hold still like your roots, deep under the ground, And draw in a breath from your feet to your crown.”
As he chose to be calm, something strange did occur, His needles grew soft, like a kitten’s light fur.
He went to the rabbits and said with a grin, “I’m sorry I poked you. May I please join in?”
A question to talk about
Is there someone you need to apologize to now?
The desert was happy; Spike felt quite whole, With a soft, gentle heart and a calm, quiet soul.
The Saguaro Sip
Spike practiced his breathing—a slow, ‘Saguaro Sip,’ He kept his arms still and he quieted his lip.
Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, breathe out for 4 counts, and hold 4 counts. Now repeat 4 times.
Spike holds still like his roots and draws a breath from his feet to his crown. Breathe along with him.
Breathe inHoldBreathe outHold
For families
One household, one copy — a story and a workbook in one
Not only a story. Every copy is a social and emotional learning tool a child can work through, at home or in a classroom.
The story
Spike gets prickly, hurts the feelings of the friends he wanted to play with, and learns to soften. Told in four-line stanzas, painted throughout.
Reflection questions
The story stops and asks the reader something — about a prickly moment of their own, about someone they owe an apology to.
Worksheets in the back
The Prickly List, Draw Your Needles, the Cactus Journal to keep, a reframing-thoughts page, the Saguaro Sip, a desert maze, coloring pages, and real saguaro facts.
All three formats below carry exactly the same contents — the story, the questions and the worksheets. Choose the one that fits your home.
Paperback
$19.95
On Amazon, shipped by Amazon.
Buy on Amazon
Hardcover
$29.95
On Amazon, shipped by Amazon.
Buy on Amazon
Printable family PDF
$12.95
8.5 × 11. One household — print it for your own children, as often as you like.
Get the PDF
For clinics, daycares and schools
A license to print, photocopy and project it — for as long as you have it
The same story, reflection questions and worksheets families get — licensed so you can use them with the children in your care. Print the worksheets for a session, photocopy them for a classroom, or put the story on a screen and read it together.
Each license covers one title and comes with two masters: the full-color version for projecting, and a black-and-white ink-saver version for printing. One payment, no renewal.
By site
Per title, per site. One building means every classroom and every member of staff in it.
- One buildingAll classrooms and staff$99
- 2–5 locationsPer site$79
- 6–15 locationsPer site$65
- 16+ locationsPer site$49
School districts
Per title, flat, and shared across every campus you have.
- 1–3 schools$549
- 4–10 schools$1,495
- 11–25 schools$3,250
- 26+ schoolsFrom $4,950
“Spike Learns to Soften” and “Spike Learns to Listen” together, single site — $169, a saving of $19.
Standing order for the series — half off your tier for every new title.
Print, photocopy, and project for your own students or clients within the licensed site(s), forever. Do not share files or links outside the licensed site, upload to public or district-wide servers, or resell.
Come and meet him
Workshops, lunch-and-learns, and a free look first
Meet Spike — free
Virtual. A look at the book and how it is used, with no charge. 15 minutes and questions.
Intro or lunch-and-learn
1 hour
$300 virtual · $450 in person
Implementation workshop
2 hours
$550 virtual · $750 in person
Social-emotional learning deep-dive
Half day
$1,000 virtual · $1,500 in person
The series
A Saguaro's Guide to Growing Up
Book one
Spike Learns to Soften
A Saguaro’s Guide to Big Feelings
Anger, frustration, and the sting of losing — and the breath that lets a prickly cactus soften without giving up a single needle.
Book two
Spike Learns to Listen
A Saguaro’s Guide to Quiet Ears and Open Hearts
What it takes to hear someone all the way through, and what a friend sounds like when you do.
Coming soonBook three
Spike Learns to Wait
Underway
Waiting is the hardest one to learn, and the hardest one to write. Rebecca is writing it now, in the time she has between patients, and this page will be the first to say when it is ready.
Still to come
Five more are planned. They are titled but not yet written or drawn, so there are no covers and no dates — just where Spike is headed next.
Spike Learns to Share
A Saguaro’s Guide to Generosity and Group Play
Spike Learns to Stand Tall
A Saguaro’s Guide to Confidence and Courage
Spike Learns to Bloom
A Saguaro’s Guide to Finding Your Place and Making New Friends
Spike Learns to Sip
A Saguaro’s Guide to Mindfulness and Inner Calm
Spike Learns to Bend
A Saguaro’s Guide to the Strength of a Real Apology
How the books were made
Rebecca Gassett, RN, MS, CPNP-PC
As a clinician with over 25 years of experience as a nurse practitioner, the heart of this series stems from my work with children, teens, and young adults in the mental health and healthcare space. While the characters and their journeys are my original creations, I embraced modern tools to bring them to life. AI served as a valuable collaborator when I hit writer’s block, helping me refine the cadence and rhyme of my stanzas. It also transformed my rough sketches into the vibrant, relatable illustrations you see in this book. I often tell my patients that recognizing your strengths and knowing when to seek support is a superpower. Whether it’s asking for help or using the tools at your disposal, nobody has to be perfect.
This book is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is designed to support social-emotional learning and emotional regulation skills in children. The characters and storylines are fictional metaphors used to illustrate coping strategies. Reading this book does not constitute a therapist-patient relationship, nor is it a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are concerned about a child’s emotional or behavioral health, please consult with a licensed mental health professional or healthcare provider.