The Legend of the Poinsettia
In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de la Nochebuenao flower of the Holy Night. At Christmastime, the flower blooms and flourishes, the quite exquisite red stars lighting up the countryside.\ This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be, through a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child. Beloved Newbery honor-winning author and Caldecott honor-winning illustrator Tomie dePaola has embraced the legend using his own special feeling for Christmas. His glorious paintings...
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In this legend from Mexico, a little girl, Lucinda, is proud to help her mother weave a new blanket for the Baby Jesus to be used in a Christmas procession. But when Lucinda s mother takes ill, Lucinda tangles the yarn and is unable to complete the blanket. Felling she has ruined Christmas, Lucinda is reluctant to go to the procession until a mysterious old woman appears from the shadows and tells Lucinda, "Any gift is beautiful because it is given. What ever you bring the Baby Jesus will love because it comes from you." Nervously, Lucinda grabs an arm full of weeds, which she brings into the church. As she prays, the weeds open into dazzling red flowers that decorate the alter.Publishers WeeklyIn the tradition of his The Legend of the Bluebonnet and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, dePaola offers another gracious retelling of a timeless folktale. His skillfully pared-down narrative and paintings that glow with strong colors present the story of a well-intentioned Mexican child, Lucida. Distressed because she has no other gift to offer Baby Jesus, she carries into the church an armful of weeds, each of which suddenly becomes ``tipped with a flaming red star''-marking the miraculous blooming of the first poinsettias. Released simultaneously in English-and Spanish-language editions. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
\ Publishers Weekly\ - Publisher's Weekly\ In the tradition of his The Legend of the Bluebonnet and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, dePaola offers another gracious retelling of a timeless folktale. His skillfully pared-down narrative and paintings that glow with strong colors present the story of a well-intentioned Mexican child, Lucida. Distressed because she has no other gift to offer Baby Jesus, she carries into the church an armful of weeds, each of which suddenly becomes ``tipped with a flaming red star''-marking the miraculous blooming of the first poinsettias. Released simultaneously in English-and Spanish-language editions. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)\ \ \ \ \ Children's Literature\ - Debra Briatico\ Tomie dePaola masterfully retells the Mexican legend of how the poinsettia came to be. When Lucida's mother becomes ill and is unable to finish weaving a blanket for the town's nativity, Lucida tries to finish it herself. After she ruins the blanket beyond repair and is ashamed to enter the church empty-handed, Lucida hides from the town's festive Christmas Eve procession. While she is hiding, a mysterious old woman comes out of the shadows and encourages her to join her family in church and offer whatever she can give to Baby Jesus. After gathering an armful of weeds, Lucinda enters the church and places them in the manger, where they transform into the bright red star of the poinsettia. On their way home after midnight mass, the villagers find the countryside filled with these beautiful red stars.\ \
