White Flower: A Maya Princess

by Victor Montejo, Rafael Yockteng (Illustrator)

This popular folktale with Spanish origins features W’itz Ak’al, the Lord of the Woods, a cacique (king) who commands both the natural world and the city; and his beautiful daughter, Blanca Flor, who also can command the forces of nature to get her way. When a suitor arrives to court her, he must survive a series of trials set by Blanca’s father to prove his worth. Deer instead of horses act as both animal servants and the alter egos of the king and queen. Wonderfully magical, White Flower with its strong female protagonist is set at the time of the classic Maya civilization, with gorgeous watercolor images of pyramid-cities in lush jungles.

Genres: Picture Books

36 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2005

Reviews

[Nathan]

Mayan fairy tale.

[Valerie]

This popular folktale with Spanish origins features W 19itz Ak 19al, the Lord of the Woods, a king who commands both the natural world and the city, and his daughter, Blanca Flor, who also can command the forces of nature to get her way. When a suitor arrives to court her, he must survive a series of trials set by Blanca 19s father to prove his worth.

[Rachel]

Gorgeous illustration with an interesting Mayan folktale about a prince who forgets his name and ends up working for the Lord of the Forest and falling for his daughter, who in turn tries to run away with him and eventually marries him.

[Gabrielle]

A retelling of a traditional Mayan folktale.