Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart
Common Sense Note
Parents should know that there is nothing objectionable in this book. Doña Flor is a kindly giant, kind to people, animals, and plants. The townspeople are frightened by a loud mountain lion growl, but Doña Flor resolves the situation without violence or conflict.
Families who read this book may be inspired to read other tall tales -- or come up with some of their own. The book uses some Spanish words and phrases, and parents may want to talk about what those words mean and figure out ways to use them in their day-to-day lives.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kate Pavao
The illustrator won the American Library Association's 2006 prize for best children's book celebrating Latino culture. Certainly his pictures will capture kids -- as will the magical story.
Large, soft, dreamlike drawings show the giant Doña Flor sleeping amongst pillowy clouds (this one spans two facing pages) -- or kids floating on the pond using huge tortillas she makes each morning. Sometimes Doña Flor doesn't even fit inside the page's frame.
The story has wonderful images of its own: Doña Flor using stars to add shine to her homemade adobe, the giant reading stories to kids and animals while they "climbed all over her soft body."
All in all, a charming story that may inspire kids to write -- and draw -- some imaginative stories of their own.
From The Book
Long, long ago, when Flor was a baby, her mother sang to her in a voice sweet as river music. When Flor's mother sang to her corn plants, they grew tall as trees, and when she sang to her baby, her sweet flower, well, Flor grew and grew, too.
Plot Summary:
Doña Flor is a giant who carries kids to school, makes tortillas each morning for the village to eat (and use as roofs or rafts), and lets birds nest in her hair.
When her animal and people friends are frightened by what sounds like a giant mountain lion circling the village, Doña Flor goes to investigate.
Related Books:
Other Folktales:
The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South by Robert San Souci
Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears: A West African Tale by Verna Aardema
Tasty Baby Belly Buttons: A Japanese Folktale by Judy Sierra
Another Collaboration Between Mora and Colón:
Tomás and the Library Lady
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ViolencePeople in the town are frightened of a loud-growling mountain lion. |
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Social BehaviorDoña Flor is kind to plants, animals, and people. Some kids tease her, but not much is made of this. |
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