The Legend of the Poinsettia

Lucida lived with her mama, papa and younger brother and sister in a small mountain village in Mexico. She worked hard to help both of her parents, and when Padre Alvarez asked her mother to weave a new blanket for the Baby Jesus, to be used in that year's Christmas procession, she helped with that too. But when her mother became ill and had to go away, and Lucida tangled the weaving, it seemed that her family would be the only one to have no gift to give to the Baby Jesus. Hanging back from entering the church on Christmas Eve, she encountered a strange woman, who encouraged her to give what she could, and heartened by this advice, she gathered some green weeds to lay before the manger. In doing this, she set in motion a miracle, for show more the weeds were transformed into gorgeous red flowers—poinsettias, or the flor of Nochebuana...

Published in 1994, The Legend of the Poinsettia is the third folktale retelling I have read from author/illustrator Tomie dePaola, following upon his The Legend of the Bluebonnet (1983) and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush (1988), that explains how a flower came to be. It is also the second picture book retelling of this specific folktale I have encountered, after Joanne Oppenheim and Fabian Negrin's The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story. On the whole I think I prefer that other telling just a bit, because of Negrin's fabulous illustrations, but this one is still very appealing, with a lovely story of a Christmas miracle, and dePaola's appealing artwork (which I would recognize anywhere, having grown up with it!). Recommended to anyone looking for Christmas stories with a Mexican cultural background, as well as to young folklore enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy pourquoi stories explaining how things came to be. show less

This book tells the story of the poinsetta and how it came to be a major symbol of Christmas. Lucida is a young girl who is excited to help her mother weave a beautiful blanket to give as a gift during Christmas mass to the baby Jesus in the nativity scene. Unfortunately, before the blanket is finished Lucida's mother falls ill. Lucida is upset and decides to try to finish the blanket herself so that she can give it as a gift still, but she ends up tangling the blanket so badly it cannot be fixed in time. Lucida is ashamed that she has no gift and feels that she ruined Christmas until an elderly woman appears near her while she is hiding outside the church. The woman tells her that she has a message: that he mom will be fine and will show more return so she should join everyone for the Christmas procession. Lucida worries about what to give as an offering, so the woman explains that any gift is beautiful because it is given. I loved the sentiment of gift-giving in her advice, making it about the thought rather than the value. Lucida collects a bundle of tall green weeds to give, which makes people whisper. While she is giving her offering and praying, something magical happens. The green weeds bloom into beautiful red flowers and so do all of the weeds outside the church. They bloom into what we now call poinsettias. Lucida's gift did indeed become beautiful when she gave it as an offering, just like the old woman told her. This retelling of a Mexican legend is very touching and captures the spirit of Christmas. I loved the legend, but the way the book itself was written was not my favorite. This book is very text heavy for a picture book, making it more suited for older children. I think that younger kids could enjoy the story if it's read aloud. show less

I've always loved poinsettias at Christmas, but it wasn't until my brother married into a Mexican family a few years ago that I learned that poinsettias are native to Mexico. Tomie dePaola's colorfully illustrated book tells the story of how the poinsettia became associated with Christmas in Mexico. It's a beautiful legend that reminds me of the Little Drummer Boy. Families might want to read this one together during the Christmas season. Elementary teachers could use this book in a unit on holiday traditions in other countries. I think I'll add it to my Christmas decorations in a coffee table display of seasonal reading.

This is the story of the poinsettia and how it became a symbol of Christmas. This book follows Lucinda, a young girl living in Mexico, who is looking forward to Christmas. Her mother and her are given he honor to make the blanket for the baby Jesus in the Nativity scene. Before they are able to finish the blanket, Lucinda's mother becomes ill and is unable to complete it. Lucinda tries to finish it on her own and the blanket becomes a tangled mess. Lucinda feels as though she has disappointed everyone and ruined Christmas. On Christmas Eve the city gathers for a procession, Lucinda hides in the shadows. An elderly woman appears and explains to Lucinda that her mother will be fine and she should return to the procession. Lucinda feels show more worried that she does not have anything to offer. The woman tells her the beauty of a gift is that it is given. Lucinda gathers green weeds and brings them in to lay at the Nativity scene. When she looks up all of the weeds have blossomed into red flowers, poinsettias. This is a wonderful retelling of a Mexican legend that carries the spirit of Christmas. This would be a great book for a read aloud and in sharing the meaning of a gift. show less

This beautiful Mexican story of the la Flor de Nochebuena, the Flower of the Holy Night - the poinsettia is one I had not read before. I love poinsettias and do now even more because of this story. This would be a great story to read on one of the last days before Christmas vacation. Poinsettias are plentiful at that time and if affordable the students could take a small one home as a gift for their parents and share the story with them.

I liked this book for several main reasons. First, it had a bilingual component to it. Although it wasn’t a fully bilingual book, there were spanish references in the story. For example, one page read “At home Lucida helped mama clean their casita- their little house- and pat out the tortillas for their meals.” Although there was no full translation, there was a lot of spanish vocabulary mixed into the book. This can act as a good introduction to the spanish language. Another thing I liked about this book was the topic. Everyone loves the holidays, no matter which one they celebrate. There’s something heartwarming about reading how others celebrate the holidays that you enjoy so much. The main idea of this book was spelled out show more directly on one of the last pages: “Ah, Lucida, any gift is beautiful because it is given...whatever you give, they will love, because it comes from you.” show less

This is the story of the poinsettia and its importance to the Christmas tradition. This is a Mexican legend full of culture. It is about a little girl and her mother who are making a blanket for baby Jesus for Christmas Eve. The mother becomes ill and they do not finish the blanket in time. The little girl is upset that she has no gift, when a woman appears and tells her that any gift you give to baby Jesus would be appreciated. The little girl picks some weeds and put them by the baby Jesus statue, the weeds turn in to beautiful flowers, the poinsettia flower. This was a sweet reminder that giving from your heart is a gift in itself.