What do you think?
Rate this book
Doña Flor
Doña Flor, una señora gigante, vive en un pueblo pequeñito. Los vecinos la adoran y ella adora a sus vecinos. Deja que los niños utilicen las flores de su jardín como trompetas y las tortillas como balsas. A Doña Flor le Doña Flor-Spanish Editionencanta leer y con frecuencia puedes verla rodeada de niños que escuchan atentos las historias de sus libros.
Un día un tremendo aullido de animal proveniente de las afueras del pueblo asusta a todos, incluida a Doña Flor. Quiere proteger a sus queridos vecinos y con ayuda de sus amigos los animales, se dirige hacia la meseta más alta, en busca de la terrible fiera. Pero cuál no será su sorpresa cuando descubre que tras semejante estruendo se esconde una pequeña criatura.
Pat Mora y Raul Colón colaboran nuevamente para traernos una tierna historia sobre una mujer gigante con un corazón muy grande.
El último trabajo de Pat Mora y Raul Colón, TOMÁS Y LA SEÑORA DE LA BIBLIOTECA, fue galardonado con el premio Tomás Rivera.
Un día un tremendo aullido de animal proveniente de las afueras del pueblo asusta a todos, incluida a Doña Flor. Quiere proteger a sus queridos vecinos y con ayuda de sus amigos los animales, se dirige hacia la meseta más alta, en busca de la terrible fiera. Pero cuál no será su sorpresa cuando descubre que tras semejante estruendo se esconde una pequeña criatura.
Pat Mora y Raul Colón colaboran nuevamente para traernos una tierna historia sobre una mujer gigante con un corazón muy grande.
El último trabajo de Pat Mora y Raul Colón, TOMÁS Y LA SEÑORA DE LA BIBLIOTECA, fue galardonado con el premio Tomás Rivera.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published October 11, 2005
30 people are currently reading
741 people want to read
About the author
Pat Mora
86 books97 followersPat Mora (born 1942) is a female Mexican-American author and poet. Pat Mora was born in El Paso, Texas. She is married and has 3 grown children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
May 21, 2008
This book is all love - Flor is big because of her mother's love and love is why her plants grow so large; she loves her neighbors, she loves animals and plants and the earth, and the major conflict in the book is resolved by her love. This is definitely one of my very favorite books ever, even though I didn't grow up with it.
Also, there are a couple of Spanish words thrown in there, but literally every single one is explained by context. It is almost impossible to not understand what they mean, even if you've never heard Spanish before in your life.
This book warms me up all over.
Also, there are a couple of Spanish words thrown in there, but literally every single one is explained by context. It is almost impossible to not understand what they mean, even if you've never heard Spanish before in your life.
This book warms me up all over.
June 21, 2012
This book tells of a heartwarming, charming, and humorous story about a giant lady with a great big heart (as the title of the book states). Author Pat Mora and illustrator Raul Colon have created an engaging story of a gentle giant that loves people, animals, and plants.
Dona Flor is a giant lady that lives in a quaint little village in the American Southwest. She loves her neighbors. She loves to read to the children and even lets them climb on her when they are running late for school, asking her "Por favor, Flor, could you give us a ride?" Dona Flor also lets her neighbors use her giant tortillas as roofs for their homes. One day, the villagers hear a frightful roar that scares them. But Dona Flor is not afraid. Instead, she resolves to find out what is making that noise and where it's coming from. "Where is that big monster gato?" Dona Flor states. So she sets off for the highest mesa to find the creature that's making the noise and soon discovers the small secret behind that great big noise.
The story delivers engaging text with Spanish words mixed in between and makes references to the distinct wildlife, plants, and landscape that characterize the American Southwest. However, the author does not provide a glossary in the book, so monolingual English readers might not be able to understand those words and the context in which they are used. The illustrations also complement the text to create an unforgettable visual experience. They have warm water-colors with a scratchboard style. Overall, the book is an example of a well-written story that is complimented by its high-quality illustrations. This is a great book for a read-aloud that can extend discussions about what it means to have a giving heart. It is intended for students ages 4 and up.
Dona Flor is a giant lady that lives in a quaint little village in the American Southwest. She loves her neighbors. She loves to read to the children and even lets them climb on her when they are running late for school, asking her "Por favor, Flor, could you give us a ride?" Dona Flor also lets her neighbors use her giant tortillas as roofs for their homes. One day, the villagers hear a frightful roar that scares them. But Dona Flor is not afraid. Instead, she resolves to find out what is making that noise and where it's coming from. "Where is that big monster gato?" Dona Flor states. So she sets off for the highest mesa to find the creature that's making the noise and soon discovers the small secret behind that great big noise.
The story delivers engaging text with Spanish words mixed in between and makes references to the distinct wildlife, plants, and landscape that characterize the American Southwest. However, the author does not provide a glossary in the book, so monolingual English readers might not be able to understand those words and the context in which they are used. The illustrations also complement the text to create an unforgettable visual experience. They have warm water-colors with a scratchboard style. Overall, the book is an example of a well-written story that is complimented by its high-quality illustrations. This is a great book for a read-aloud that can extend discussions about what it means to have a giving heart. It is intended for students ages 4 and up.
October 24, 2014
This is a tall tale about a kindhearted giant woman named Doña Flor. She lives in a pueblo in the Southwestern part of the U.S. Although children initially make fun of Flor for being different, she forgives and helps the children in her pueblo when they need help. Flor protects the people in her pueblo, and she makes giant tortillas to ensure that everyone has enough food to eat. Her huge tortillas are even used as rafts or roofs. Doña Flor speaks all human and animal languages, so she makes sure to accept everyone. One day, Doña Flor notices that her friends are not coming out of their homes, so she sets out to investigate the reason. She discovers that her neighbors are staying in their homes because they have heard the menacing roars of a mountain lion, and they want to see refuge in their homes. As the pueblo’s protector, Doña Flor and her animal friends search for the mountain lion, but she was not successful the first time. In the morning, Doña Flor gives the wind a hug to quiet him down because she and the villagers were unable to sleep due to the mountain lion’s roar and the wind’s howling. In order to help her friends forget about the mountain lion, Flor creates a new river in her pueblo by using her finger. Finally, Flor discovers the location of the mountain lion by following the instructions from a rabbit, snake, and deer. She learns that the mountain lion has been roaring through a hollow log in order to make his menacing roars. The villagers search for Flor after they become worried about her prolonged absence. Flor reassures the villagers that the mountain lion will no longer be a problem because it will live with her and will not harm them. After such a long day, Flor creates stars in the night sky so that her friends may find their way home.
Both the author and illustrator are Hispanics, so the story accurately depicts Hispanic characters and setting. The book only represents the Hispanic culture, and there are no negative stereotypes present. Doña Flor’s love of animals, people, and the Earth teaches children about compassion and respect for other living beings. Raul Colon’s drawings bring this tall tale to life and causes children to be engaged while reading the story. The book may be used in a read aloud and may be followed by a discussion about caring for others despite the fact that others may not be nice at first. Students may also learn about the meaning of friendship, which is demonstrated when the villagers search for Flor even though they were afraid. Although there is not a Spanish glossary, readers who do not know Spanish can still understand the story by looking at the illustrations and making inferences from the surrounding text. The large, vivid illustrations and simple sentences make this book ideal for four-year-olds and above. Dona Flor’s text and illustrations encourage young children to use their imaginations to consider a character that could not possibly exist in real-life
Both the author and illustrator are Hispanics, so the story accurately depicts Hispanic characters and setting. The book only represents the Hispanic culture, and there are no negative stereotypes present. Doña Flor’s love of animals, people, and the Earth teaches children about compassion and respect for other living beings. Raul Colon’s drawings bring this tall tale to life and causes children to be engaged while reading the story. The book may be used in a read aloud and may be followed by a discussion about caring for others despite the fact that others may not be nice at first. Students may also learn about the meaning of friendship, which is demonstrated when the villagers search for Flor even though they were afraid. Although there is not a Spanish glossary, readers who do not know Spanish can still understand the story by looking at the illustrations and making inferences from the surrounding text. The large, vivid illustrations and simple sentences make this book ideal for four-year-olds and above. Dona Flor’s text and illustrations encourage young children to use their imaginations to consider a character that could not possibly exist in real-life
April 22, 2017
Dona Flor is an excellent book to read, I really loved reading this book! The title is exactly what the book is about, a giant woman with a big heart! Dona Flor is about a girl who grew to be a giant because her mother would sing to her as a baby, and the more she sang to her the more she grew. Some of the kids would bully her because of how big she was and because the could talk every language even to bugs and even rattlers. However, the children ended up growing very fond of Dona Flor. When she finally stopped growing she built her own house and made everyone including the plants and animals feel welcome in her home, "mi casa es su casa", she said. Dona Flor cooked corn tortillas for the whole town so everyone could have something to eat. In the summer children would use her tortillas as rafts. However, one day she could not find her people and she went to ask what was wrong. Her friends told her they were scared because they heard a mountain lion around the village. So of course, Dona Flor went searching for el gato, the cat, who made the wind angry from all the noise he was making. She tried to cheer her scared friends up but she couldn't, so she went on another search to find the puma. When she finally found the roaring animal, to her surprise it was a small cat, who thought it was funny to make the big roaring noises and scare the people. She became friends with the puma and brought him back to the village where everyone also became friends with him too! Dona Flora saved the day and put her town back together again.
I would read this folklore to primary age children in K-2 in a read aloud setting. I would also use this book to teach students about tall tales and have the students come up with their own tale. I would also use this book to teach the importance of friendship and how it is okay to be friends with people who are not like us. I think this book could explore a lot of different lessons to teach children and I really enjoyed reading it.
I would read this folklore to primary age children in K-2 in a read aloud setting. I would also use this book to teach students about tall tales and have the students come up with their own tale. I would also use this book to teach the importance of friendship and how it is okay to be friends with people who are not like us. I think this book could explore a lot of different lessons to teach children and I really enjoyed reading it.
January 20, 2020
The giant Doña Flor looks out for her smaller neighbors in this original Tall Tale, set in the American Southwest, from author Pat Mora and illustrator Raúl Colón. Whether reading to the children or baking massive tortillas that can be used as roofs or rafts, she is constantly working to help others. But when the whole neighborhood is frightened by the terrible roar of a massive puma, our greathearted heroine has trouble finding the threatening cat. Still, Doña Flor persists, and eventually finds someone else who needs a friend...
I greatly enjoyed Tomás and the Library Lady , the previous collaboration between this author and illustrator, so I picked up Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart with every expectation of loving it. I was not disappointed, as I discovered an engaging and heartwarming tale about a friendly giant, one in the best tradition of such American Tall Tale heroes as Paul Bunyan, and absolutely lovely artwork. It's easy to see why Raúl Colón won a Pura Belpré Medal for illustration! His use of color and shape, the soft but somehow well-defined figures in his paintings - they all combine to create beautiful scenes. Recommended to anyone who enjoys Tall Tales about friendly giants, or who is looking for picture-books with a Latino cultural setting.
I greatly enjoyed Tomás and the Library Lady , the previous collaboration between this author and illustrator, so I picked up Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart with every expectation of loving it. I was not disappointed, as I discovered an engaging and heartwarming tale about a friendly giant, one in the best tradition of such American Tall Tale heroes as Paul Bunyan, and absolutely lovely artwork. It's easy to see why Raúl Colón won a Pura Belpré Medal for illustration! His use of color and shape, the soft but somehow well-defined figures in his paintings - they all combine to create beautiful scenes. Recommended to anyone who enjoys Tall Tales about friendly giants, or who is looking for picture-books with a Latino cultural setting.
October 12, 2016
Plot Summary:
-In the tall tale Dona Flor by Pat Mora it is a story about a giant woman named Dona Flor and her town that she loves and protects. Dona Flor is a giant woman that lives in a town where she lives with lots of different families. Dona Flor loves her neighbors. She allows the children to use her flowers as trumpets and her leftover tortillas as rafts. Each day the children and her neighbors keep complaining to Dona about the “RAWRRR” that they keep hearing and they are scared. Day after day Dona stomps around and cannot find out where this rawr is coming from. Then one day Dona Flor tracks the rawr down, and it ends up just being a tiny small puma rawring into a small wooden log. The village trusted Dona Flor to investigate and protect them and that she did. Through Spanish and English Pat Mora does a great job at telling the tall tale Dona Flor.
Literary Merit:
-The literary merit that is most noteworthy for this tall tale is it’s style of writing that incorporates the culture of Spanish into the story. Adding Spanish into this tall tale is what makes this story a flexible text to use in all different kinds of areas in your classroom. Pat Mora does a great job at telling a Spanish cultural story in English and intertwining both cultures is a great element for the story.
Reader Response/Classroom Connection:
-See poster in classroom.
-In the tall tale Dona Flor by Pat Mora it is a story about a giant woman named Dona Flor and her town that she loves and protects. Dona Flor is a giant woman that lives in a town where she lives with lots of different families. Dona Flor loves her neighbors. She allows the children to use her flowers as trumpets and her leftover tortillas as rafts. Each day the children and her neighbors keep complaining to Dona about the “RAWRRR” that they keep hearing and they are scared. Day after day Dona stomps around and cannot find out where this rawr is coming from. Then one day Dona Flor tracks the rawr down, and it ends up just being a tiny small puma rawring into a small wooden log. The village trusted Dona Flor to investigate and protect them and that she did. Through Spanish and English Pat Mora does a great job at telling the tall tale Dona Flor.
Literary Merit:
-The literary merit that is most noteworthy for this tall tale is it’s style of writing that incorporates the culture of Spanish into the story. Adding Spanish into this tall tale is what makes this story a flexible text to use in all different kinds of areas in your classroom. Pat Mora does a great job at telling a Spanish cultural story in English and intertwining both cultures is a great element for the story.
Reader Response/Classroom Connection:
-See poster in classroom.
October 25, 2017
Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart is a heartwarming story about a woman who grows so big because of her mother who loves her so much that she sings to her everyday which causes her to continue growing. This book exemplifies what true kindness is as it describes Dona Flor's love for her friends through all of the special things she does for them like letting them use her giant leftover tortillas as rafts or going to find the puma who is making frightening noises.
Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart is folklore. I would recommend it for grades K-2. This book could be used to teach students about the different elements of folklore. This book would also make a great read aloud because it takes place in Mexico and incorporates Spanish words that are easy to figure out based on the context in the story. This would be great to read during Hispanic Heritage month or at any time of the year to promote culturally responsive texts. It also has many good lessons to teach young children such as kindness and friendship.
This is a WOW book for me because I find the tale of Dona Flor so heartwarming. The heartwarming nature of the story combined with the vivid images and intertwined cultures gives me so many possibilities of how I can use this text to teach young readers.
Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart is folklore. I would recommend it for grades K-2. This book could be used to teach students about the different elements of folklore. This book would also make a great read aloud because it takes place in Mexico and incorporates Spanish words that are easy to figure out based on the context in the story. This would be great to read during Hispanic Heritage month or at any time of the year to promote culturally responsive texts. It also has many good lessons to teach young children such as kindness and friendship.
This is a WOW book for me because I find the tale of Dona Flor so heartwarming. The heartwarming nature of the story combined with the vivid images and intertwined cultures gives me so many possibilities of how I can use this text to teach young readers.
November 19, 2017
“Dona Flor” is about a little girl, Dona that grows taller and larger than all the other children due to her mother’s singing. She ends up being the village giant and through her differences she is able to save her pueblo from a puma that is terrorizing the people. Dona is able to become friends with the cat and keep all her neighbors and friends from the village safe. This book felt like a journey that you were going along with Dona on and was beautifully written. Through “Dona Flor,” Pat Mora takes a traditional canon, folklore and diversifies it to includes those that are often left out of American folkloric canon: women and those of Hispanic heritage. This book was written bilingually and is about people of the American Southwest. This tall tale also challenges the traditional ideas that women should be small and take up less space and not give their opinions. In the classroom, I would include this book when teaching geography, specifically geography and culture of the Southwest. The wonderful illustrations of this book give insights to both the physical landscape and culture of this region along with the written words. Students could discuss the various land features of the Southwest that were talked about and shown in the book and the culture of the Puebloans. This could even lead into a project that requires students to research why such a folktale would play an importance in the Puebloan culture. The lesson I enjoyed most from this book, which could also be included in discussions during a read aloud, was how someone’s differences can play an important role in their community and can even be how they can individually help those around them.
February 22, 2009
Dona Flor, written by Pat Mora and illustrated by Raul Colon, is a Latino-themed tall tale that brings big smiles to children. Flor is such a giant she can sleep in the clouds and hug the wind. She can reach up and touch the estrellas, stars. At one point, she jumps up and bruises the sun in the eye.
Not only is Flor’s body big, her heart is enormous. She reads to the children in her village every day. She makes huge tortillas that can be used as roofs for homes and rafts for children. When Flor sings, birds come and build their nests in her hair. Flor loves animals and can speak every language.
One day, Flor’s neighbors and friends are afraid to come out because they hear a loud roar. They believe it is a mountain lion, el puma!! Flor doesn’t want her animal and people friends to be afraid, so she sets off to find the lion and protect her village.
As I read this wonderfully written and illustrated tall tale, I felt as if Flor symbolized all the strong Latino women. I am not sure if that was the intention, but that was my perception. She cooks, reads, makes the home welcome to all and has a beautiful, big heart.
Dona Flor is an excellent picture book to include in a classroom library. It positively portrays the Latino culture. Beautiful cultural images and messages are found throughout the story. In addition, I appreciate the fact that the heroic protagonist is female. Flor is not a tiny, dainty woman who needs protection from the world. She is large in every way and readers can’t help but love her.
Colon’s illustrations are remarkable. He uses a combination of watercolor washes, etching and colored pencils. Flor’s full-sized physical features are superbly depicted.
The Pura Belpre Award was given to Dona Flor in 2006. The award goes to the piece of children’s literature which best exemplifies authentic cultural experiences. Readers are immersed in the Latino culture as they read this creative, light-hearted and entertaining tall tale. Dona Flor was also awarded the Golden Kite Award given to the outstanding children’s book written and illustrated by members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Not only is Flor’s body big, her heart is enormous. She reads to the children in her village every day. She makes huge tortillas that can be used as roofs for homes and rafts for children. When Flor sings, birds come and build their nests in her hair. Flor loves animals and can speak every language.
One day, Flor’s neighbors and friends are afraid to come out because they hear a loud roar. They believe it is a mountain lion, el puma!! Flor doesn’t want her animal and people friends to be afraid, so she sets off to find the lion and protect her village.
As I read this wonderfully written and illustrated tall tale, I felt as if Flor symbolized all the strong Latino women. I am not sure if that was the intention, but that was my perception. She cooks, reads, makes the home welcome to all and has a beautiful, big heart.
Dona Flor is an excellent picture book to include in a classroom library. It positively portrays the Latino culture. Beautiful cultural images and messages are found throughout the story. In addition, I appreciate the fact that the heroic protagonist is female. Flor is not a tiny, dainty woman who needs protection from the world. She is large in every way and readers can’t help but love her.
Colon’s illustrations are remarkable. He uses a combination of watercolor washes, etching and colored pencils. Flor’s full-sized physical features are superbly depicted.
The Pura Belpre Award was given to Dona Flor in 2006. The award goes to the piece of children’s literature which best exemplifies authentic cultural experiences. Readers are immersed in the Latino culture as they read this creative, light-hearted and entertaining tall tale. Dona Flor was also awarded the Golden Kite Award given to the outstanding children’s book written and illustrated by members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
April 4, 2014
Doña Flor is a tall tale about a giant woman who takes care of the people and the animals in her village. Flor grows big and tall and quickly becomes respected in the community, as she takes care of them in various ways. She makes giant, delicious tortillas for the entire pueblo, and when the strong wind blows hard in the morning, she hugs the wind to make it calm down. When the villagers are afraid of a puma after hearing its growls, Doña Flor finds the puma and realizes he’s just a little one growling through a hollow log to exaggerate his power. She comforts the people of the pueblo and leads them back home.
Doña Flor is an example of traditional literature as it reflects the values of the people, jumping right into the action of the story with little description of the characters or people, and includes a lot of the original language – the story is filled with Spanish terms and phrases. The way it’s written also has a very oral style, and could be repeated in a storytelling fashion. This could be used in 2nd-4th grade to teach about how a community can take care of each other and watch out for each other – for example, at the beginning of the school year, when discussing the qualities we want to see in our classroom community. The most obvious use of this book would be in a folktales unit in 2nd grade to compare various genres of folktales, as an example of a tall tale. It could also be used in 4th grade in a storytelling unit, where the students could use storyboards to recreate the story, and then practice retelling the story orally to small groups.
Doña Flor is an example of traditional literature as it reflects the values of the people, jumping right into the action of the story with little description of the characters or people, and includes a lot of the original language – the story is filled with Spanish terms and phrases. The way it’s written also has a very oral style, and could be repeated in a storytelling fashion. This could be used in 2nd-4th grade to teach about how a community can take care of each other and watch out for each other – for example, at the beginning of the school year, when discussing the qualities we want to see in our classroom community. The most obvious use of this book would be in a folktales unit in 2nd grade to compare various genres of folktales, as an example of a tall tale. It could also be used in 4th grade in a storytelling unit, where the students could use storyboards to recreate the story, and then practice retelling the story orally to small groups.
June 26, 2010
It's great to find a tall tale with Latino characters. Dona Flor is a giant woman who lives in a pueblo and makes giant tortillas to share with everyone. She has a big heart and tries to help the people of the pueblo any way she can, by taming the wind, re-routing a river, and getting to the bottom of the mysterious giant puma that is scaring everyone so much they don't even want to leave their houses.
Available in Spanish.
Picture book, tall tale, multicultural. Pura Belpre medal for illustrator, honor for author.
Available in Spanish.
Picture book, tall tale, multicultural. Pura Belpre medal for illustrator, honor for author.
April 24, 2009
I thought this was a lovely story about friendship. Despite her difference, Dona Flor wins over the villagers and becomes their close friend. And despite their fears they come to help her when they're worried she's in trouble. The illustrations were beautiful and really captured life in that culture. The text also slipped in Spanish vocabulary so discretely you didn't even realize you were learning the words as you read the story.
October 10, 2009
This is a Mexican Folktale about a girl named Dona Flor who grew so big because of her mother's sweet singing and love. The children in the village at first make fun of her for being so big, but then they see that she is able to help them. She speaks every language--even rattler, and can bring them places very quickly. The illustrations are done in scratch are with much detail, and beautiful color.
September 22, 2010
I think Pat Mora's style of writing, in Spanish obviously, is clear. He has a vocabulary simple and easay for a child to understand. Raul Colon's drawings are "belleza extraordinaria". His style makes the book come to life.
This tall tale is about goodness and caring. Despite the children made fun of Mrs, Flower's size she cared for them and protected them. She looked after her neighbors and provided for them.
I recomend reading the Spanish version for better understanding.
This tall tale is about goodness and caring. Despite the children made fun of Mrs, Flower's size she cared for them and protected them. She looked after her neighbors and provided for them.
I recomend reading the Spanish version for better understanding.
Read
May 14, 2011The story reminds me of Paul Bunyan. The story has latino (a) elements throughout, for example when she speaks Spanish or when she says Spanish sayings like " Mi Casa es su Casa" to welcome everybody to her house. She is Latina-Mexicana, she makes tortillas and plants chiles. She is also global. She speaks all the languages she can even communicate with the animals. She loves animals and nature. She is warm. loving, huggable. She loves to help the people from her pueblo.
August 4, 2015
Loved this book! Dona Flor is a giant woman (think Paul Bunyan meets the Goddess) who takes care of her pueblo and helps solve the mystery of a scary puma roar everyone is hearing. The rhythm of the story was a little rambly, but I think that was just the right pace for a "tall tale" style story. Nice integration of Spanish words and ideas into the text. My daughter loves the part where they find out the truth about the puma roar!
February 10, 2012
Dona Flor saves her village from a scary ROARING sound
June 13, 2016
Read for 5427 class
As "a tall tale about a giant woman with a great big heart", this story is a good introduction the magical realism that is such a cultural presence in Hispanic/Latino cultures.
As "a tall tale about a giant woman with a great big heart", this story is a good introduction the magical realism that is such a cultural presence in Hispanic/Latino cultures.
December 8, 2018
Annotated Bibliography Entry: Dona Flor by Pat Mora
Summary:
Dona Flor is a giant who became a giant because her mom often sang to her as a child, which caused her to grow at an extraordinary rate. As a child, she was often made fun of for being a giant, but when she got older she realized that being a giant compared to everyone else has its benefits. For example, Dona Flor does a lot of kind things for the children living in her Pueblo. She sings to them, reads to them, brings them to school when they are late and even makes tortillas for everyone (including her neighbors), which are so big that they are often used as roofs or rafts. Needless to say, everyone relies on Dona Flor to keep them safe and out of harms way so when they start to hear a loud roar Dona Flor is the only one who can protect the people living in the Pueblo. However what appears to be a ferocious mountain lion is really just a tiny puma roaring into a log (which makes his roar louder as it echoes). Dona Flor thinks the little puma is the cutest thing ever and at the end of the book falls asleep on a cloud with a whole bunch animals sleeping on top of her, little puma included.
Personal Response:
This book did not have much of a plot, but I did enjoy it. I think it teaches children good messages about being compassionate and kind to others. For example, Dona Flor was picked on as a child, but as she grew older people began to realize how kind and caring Dona Flor was. They also discovered that being giant had a lot of benefits and the people began to overly rely on Dona Flora to keep everyone safe. While the people living in the Pueblo often used Dona Flor's kindness to their advantage, Dona herself represents what everyone should strive to be: kind and compassionate. Now, I would not want my students to take advantage of other's kindness (like the others often did), but there is some good things to learn about the humility of Dona Flor.
Descriptions of Illustrations:
Illustrations are very colorful and lively. I loved the contrast of the giant from the rest of the townspeople. It gives a readers a good sense of what it was like for Dona Flor to be a giant compared to everyone else, etc. It also allows students to kind of see things from Dona Flor's perspective. This is what really illustrates the contrast between giant and regular sized person.
Classroom Connections:
Since this is a tall tale, teachers could read this book to students to introduce them to the genre. After reading this book teachers could then read other tall tales to students. After doing that, teachers could create a venn diagram and have students compare and contrast aspects of tall tales. Other than the venn diagram, teachers could use this book to teach about aspects about kindness and compassion. This book as well as others that I have reviewed could easily be used to teach about kindness and do related activities.
Summary:
Dona Flor is a giant who became a giant because her mom often sang to her as a child, which caused her to grow at an extraordinary rate. As a child, she was often made fun of for being a giant, but when she got older she realized that being a giant compared to everyone else has its benefits. For example, Dona Flor does a lot of kind things for the children living in her Pueblo. She sings to them, reads to them, brings them to school when they are late and even makes tortillas for everyone (including her neighbors), which are so big that they are often used as roofs or rafts. Needless to say, everyone relies on Dona Flor to keep them safe and out of harms way so when they start to hear a loud roar Dona Flor is the only one who can protect the people living in the Pueblo. However what appears to be a ferocious mountain lion is really just a tiny puma roaring into a log (which makes his roar louder as it echoes). Dona Flor thinks the little puma is the cutest thing ever and at the end of the book falls asleep on a cloud with a whole bunch animals sleeping on top of her, little puma included.
Personal Response:
This book did not have much of a plot, but I did enjoy it. I think it teaches children good messages about being compassionate and kind to others. For example, Dona Flor was picked on as a child, but as she grew older people began to realize how kind and caring Dona Flor was. They also discovered that being giant had a lot of benefits and the people began to overly rely on Dona Flora to keep everyone safe. While the people living in the Pueblo often used Dona Flor's kindness to their advantage, Dona herself represents what everyone should strive to be: kind and compassionate. Now, I would not want my students to take advantage of other's kindness (like the others often did), but there is some good things to learn about the humility of Dona Flor.
Descriptions of Illustrations:
Illustrations are very colorful and lively. I loved the contrast of the giant from the rest of the townspeople. It gives a readers a good sense of what it was like for Dona Flor to be a giant compared to everyone else, etc. It also allows students to kind of see things from Dona Flor's perspective. This is what really illustrates the contrast between giant and regular sized person.
Classroom Connections:
Since this is a tall tale, teachers could read this book to students to introduce them to the genre. After reading this book teachers could then read other tall tales to students. After doing that, teachers could create a venn diagram and have students compare and contrast aspects of tall tales. Other than the venn diagram, teachers could use this book to teach about aspects about kindness and compassion. This book as well as others that I have reviewed could easily be used to teach about kindness and do related activities.
April 29, 2025
In Doña Flor by Pat Mora, readers are introduced to the story of a vibrant and wise woman who embodies the strength and beauty of Mexican culture. Doña Flor is a figure who is both nurturing and powerful, making decisions that shape her family’s life and community with grace and determination. The major themes of the book are resilience and community. Flor’s ability to persevere through personal challenges and loss exemplifies resilience, while her interactions with those around her show the importance of fostering strong, supportive communities. The main genre of this book is traditional literature, as it explores the dynamics of family, tradition, and identity within a Mexican American context. Through reading this book, I learned about the complexities of family life, and the subtle ways in which cultural traditions and personal strength shape an individual's journey. Children reading this book could learn about the value of perseverance in difficult times and the significance of community support. This book was a WOW for me because it illustrates how an individual's strength and wisdom can impact their community.
Two literary devices that Pat Mora uses effectively in Dona Flor are imagery and characterization. These devices elevate the quality of the writing and deepen the reader’s connection to the story. The use of imagery in the book paints vivid pictures of Flor’s world, from the setting to the emotions and actions of the characters. For example, Mora’s descriptions of Flor’s daily life, her interactions with her family, and the rich colors of the Mexican landscape create a strong sense of place and cultural identity. This imagery allows readers to experience the world through Doña Flor’s eyes, giving the story a layer of authenticity. Additionally, the characterization of Flor is a key component of the book’s emotional depth. Mora’s portrayal of Flor as a wise, caring, and resilient figure highlights her role as the heart of her family and community. The way she handles challenges and nurtures those around her is both inspiring and relatable. These literary techniques help to build a strong emotional connection with the characters and themes of the story. The book can also be considered an anti-bias book because it challenges stereotypes about women and their roles within society. Doña Flor is depicted as a powerful, multifaceted character who defies traditional expectations and serves as a positive role model for readers, regardless of their background. Through her actions and strength, Dona Flor shows that true power lies not in external circumstances but in one’s ability to lead with wisdom and compassion.
Two literary devices that Pat Mora uses effectively in Dona Flor are imagery and characterization. These devices elevate the quality of the writing and deepen the reader’s connection to the story. The use of imagery in the book paints vivid pictures of Flor’s world, from the setting to the emotions and actions of the characters. For example, Mora’s descriptions of Flor’s daily life, her interactions with her family, and the rich colors of the Mexican landscape create a strong sense of place and cultural identity. This imagery allows readers to experience the world through Doña Flor’s eyes, giving the story a layer of authenticity. Additionally, the characterization of Flor is a key component of the book’s emotional depth. Mora’s portrayal of Flor as a wise, caring, and resilient figure highlights her role as the heart of her family and community. The way she handles challenges and nurtures those around her is both inspiring and relatable. These literary techniques help to build a strong emotional connection with the characters and themes of the story. The book can also be considered an anti-bias book because it challenges stereotypes about women and their roles within society. Doña Flor is depicted as a powerful, multifaceted character who defies traditional expectations and serves as a positive role model for readers, regardless of their background. Through her actions and strength, Dona Flor shows that true power lies not in external circumstances but in one’s ability to lead with wisdom and compassion.
April 20, 2020
This book is a folktale that would be great for 3rd grade readers. It is about a girl who grew so tall that she could pluck the stars out of the sky. Doña Flor has a big heart and does everything she can to help the people in her village from giving children a ride to school to hugging the wind to calm it down. Her approach to problems is always to use kindness and it is a wonderful theme that reoccurs throughout the story. Doña Flor has many gifts aside from her height as well and she uses all of them to help and bring joy to others. Children will love hearing about this amazing character and all the things that she can do.
One activity that children can do with this book is complete a character map. They can draw a picture of Doña Flor and write captions surrounding her pictures about her traits. This can be used to discuss inferences and literal details. Students can include in the character chart both literal details that describe Doña Flor and inferences they can make about the character using text evidence. This story can also be used to discuss how stories are influenced by culture. This book includes cultural foods like tortillas and sayings like "mi casa es su casa". The teacher can brain storm a list with students of details from the story that are influenced by Mexican culture. Then students can brain storm their own list of characteristics from their own culture. They can include sayings that are often heard in their homes, foods that they eat, games that they play etc., and use this to create their own story.
This was a WOW book for me because I loved the representation of Mexican culture and how there were Spanish words and phrases throughout the book. I love seeing other cultures represented in books because when I was younger, I did not read many books that represented my own culture. It is always so surprising to me how reading a story with a main character that shares a similar background to me can have such a huge impact. I think this type of connection to literature is very special and something that all students should be able to experience. The fact that this story can do that for some of my future students really inspires me to include this in my future classroom.
I read this as an ebook.
One activity that children can do with this book is complete a character map. They can draw a picture of Doña Flor and write captions surrounding her pictures about her traits. This can be used to discuss inferences and literal details. Students can include in the character chart both literal details that describe Doña Flor and inferences they can make about the character using text evidence. This story can also be used to discuss how stories are influenced by culture. This book includes cultural foods like tortillas and sayings like "mi casa es su casa". The teacher can brain storm a list with students of details from the story that are influenced by Mexican culture. Then students can brain storm their own list of characteristics from their own culture. They can include sayings that are often heard in their homes, foods that they eat, games that they play etc., and use this to create their own story.
This was a WOW book for me because I loved the representation of Mexican culture and how there were Spanish words and phrases throughout the book. I love seeing other cultures represented in books because when I was younger, I did not read many books that represented my own culture. It is always so surprising to me how reading a story with a main character that shares a similar background to me can have such a huge impact. I think this type of connection to literature is very special and something that all students should be able to experience. The fact that this story can do that for some of my future students really inspires me to include this in my future classroom.
I read this as an ebook.
November 14, 2023
Doña Flor is about a giant woman who has a big heart and lives in a village in the American Southwest area where she stands out from others. While she was growing up, people made fun of her because she was taller than others and she also spoke every language as well as spoke to animals. One day, Doña Flor and her village heard a strange roaring going over the village. Doña Flor was motivated and wanted to figure out what this strange noise was. This noise turned out to be puma! The major theme of this book is friendship. An example of this was shown when Doña Flor was creating her own home and told everyone, “Mi casa es su casa” (my house is your house). Doña was the name she earned because everyone respected her. The main genre of this book is folklore which is also known as traditional literature. This is considered to be folklore because this book was originally passed down from one generation to another in the American Southwest area. Through reading this book, I learned that although some people may look at you differently and treat you poorly, you should always treat them how you would like to be treated. Another concept I learned from this book is the importance of embracing one's cultural heritage and traditions. The characters in the story take pride in their Southwest roots and celebrate their unique customs, highlighting the significance of preserving and cherishing one's cultural identity. This book serves as a reminder that our cultural background shapes who we are and should be embraced with pride, fostering a sense of belonging and unity within communities. This book was a WOW book for me because I was amazed at how the author and illustrator worked together to make Doña Flor just like any regular human but had physical characteristics that made her stand out from others. This is like in the real world, everyone has their unique features and characteristics that make them stand out from others but that does not mean they should not be treated as such.
A few literary devices that the author included in her book were plot, point of view, and foreshadowing. The plot of the book was to figure out where the roaring sound was coming from and who was making the sound. The third-person point of view was used in this story because we can relate to the actions of Doña Flor but we are not in the events that were happening. Lastly, foreshadowing was used throughout this book because we know when we heard roaring sounds, Doña Flor was going to try and find out where the sound was coming from. I consider this book to be an example of an anti-bias book because it challenges stereotypes and promotes inclusivity. The characters in the story come from diverse backgrounds and work together to solve a common problem, highlighting the importance of unity and understanding. Additionally, the book encourages readers to question assumptions and embrace different perspectives, fostering empathy and respect for others.
A few literary devices that the author included in her book were plot, point of view, and foreshadowing. The plot of the book was to figure out where the roaring sound was coming from and who was making the sound. The third-person point of view was used in this story because we can relate to the actions of Doña Flor but we are not in the events that were happening. Lastly, foreshadowing was used throughout this book because we know when we heard roaring sounds, Doña Flor was going to try and find out where the sound was coming from. I consider this book to be an example of an anti-bias book because it challenges stereotypes and promotes inclusivity. The characters in the story come from diverse backgrounds and work together to solve a common problem, highlighting the importance of unity and understanding. Additionally, the book encourages readers to question assumptions and embrace different perspectives, fostering empathy and respect for others.
April 19, 2020
The title of this book, "Dona Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big heart", definitely lives by its meaning, and is an inspiring story that motivates other to continuously show love.
This book stood out to me, because it included a character from a different ethnic background, and different words and phrases in this story were written in Spanish and that were easy for the reader to comprehend. I liked how the author, relied on the usage of descriptive words throughout this story, which helped the reader visualize every event and picture the character's features, which helped the story come alive.
This story provides an overview of this gentle giant woman living in a neighborhood of average sized people, who admire her kindness and love. Dona Flor spoke different animal languages and was always looking to help animals and people in the daily lives.
This book highlights the message of kindness and love to everyone, and finding the good In every person including the people who might mean harm. This Folklore book, would best suit a fun read aloud for mostly third and fourth grade students, after recess or lunch, and have student discuss how they would feel if they were in the place of that gentle giant, and what they would do in her case when she confronted the puma. It is important to have a conversation with students about the importance of showing love, and how that would make them become loved among all others just like Flora who was loved by all animals and people.
This book stood out to me, because it included a character from a different ethnic background, and different words and phrases in this story were written in Spanish and that were easy for the reader to comprehend. I liked how the author, relied on the usage of descriptive words throughout this story, which helped the reader visualize every event and picture the character's features, which helped the story come alive.
This story provides an overview of this gentle giant woman living in a neighborhood of average sized people, who admire her kindness and love. Dona Flor spoke different animal languages and was always looking to help animals and people in the daily lives.
This book highlights the message of kindness and love to everyone, and finding the good In every person including the people who might mean harm. This Folklore book, would best suit a fun read aloud for mostly third and fourth grade students, after recess or lunch, and have student discuss how they would feel if they were in the place of that gentle giant, and what they would do in her case when she confronted the puma. It is important to have a conversation with students about the importance of showing love, and how that would make them become loved among all others just like Flora who was loved by all animals and people.
January 9, 2021
After reading the picture book The Night Library, illustrated by Raúl Colón, his wordless picture book Imagine, then an essay he illustrated in The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love and Truth, I decided it was time to feed my love for Raúl Colón’s artistic style. So, I settled in and read eight books that he illustrated.
First up in my Raúl Colón marathon was Doña Flor: the Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart. I struggled with the “tall tale” and really didn’t “get it” until I read a Goodreads review hitting me over the head with “focus on the subtitle … this is all about love.” So, while this story was not my favorite out of my Raúl-Colón-stack, it was a timely reminder of the healing power of love. And, as I expected, the artwork soothed.
Other books I read in this eight-book marathon were: Pandora (words by Robert Burleigh); Sugar Cane (words by Patricia Storace); Child of the Universe (words by Ray Jayawardhana); Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops (words by Jill Biden); Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine (words by Heather Lang); A Band of Angels: a Story Inspired by the Jubilee Singers (words by Deborah Hopkinson); and, Raúl Colón's wordless picture book Draw!
First up in my Raúl Colón marathon was Doña Flor: the Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart. I struggled with the “tall tale” and really didn’t “get it” until I read a Goodreads review hitting me over the head with “focus on the subtitle … this is all about love.” So, while this story was not my favorite out of my Raúl-Colón-stack, it was a timely reminder of the healing power of love. And, as I expected, the artwork soothed.
Other books I read in this eight-book marathon were: Pandora (words by Robert Burleigh); Sugar Cane (words by Patricia Storace); Child of the Universe (words by Ray Jayawardhana); Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops (words by Jill Biden); Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine (words by Heather Lang); A Band of Angels: a Story Inspired by the Jubilee Singers (words by Deborah Hopkinson); and, Raúl Colón's wordless picture book Draw!
December 5, 2017
Doña Flor a Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart, is an award winning folklore book. This book won the Tomás Rivera Mexican-American children’s book award. The intended age group for this book is grades K-2. Doña Flor is about a giant woman who’s mother sang to her as a baby and as a result Doña grew taller and taller. At first she was made fun of for being different, but soon everyone started to ask her for help. Everyone very quickly learned how big Doña‘s heart was and how much she loved to help the people all around her. I rated this folklore at 5 stars because it’s the kind of book that I can get lost in, meaning I can forget about things that are realistic and really enjoy this non logical fiction as if I were really one of the children catching a ride to school in Doña’s hand. What I enjoyed most was the author’s great detail in explaining how tall she really was. For example the book says that she bumped into the sun and gave it a black eye, the tortillas she made were used for eating and they were used for roof tops! I think young children would enjoy this book for all the same reasons I did and more!
April 12, 2016
With Doña Flor, Mora narrates the story of a giant, benevolent woman, literally aggrandizing and extolling the female protagonist. Doña Flor challenges many unfortunate yet common ideas—that women should take up less space, speak less loudly and opine less frequently—by featuring a goddess-like woman who is unapologetically large and undeniably cherished. In effect, Mora’s story captures a childlike perspective of awe and admiration, reminding readers of the larger-than-life women in their own lives.
Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart (ages 6-8) is a “tall tale” that uses a series of hyperboles to create an exaggerated and fantastical story. Doña Flor is a beloved member of her community, assisting all her friends and neighbors in any way she can. She carries the children on her back when they’re late to school; she makes giant-sized tortillas for everyone to eat, and always functions as a conciliatory, amiable force amongst the village people. And, finally, when a little mountain lion frightens the village by roaring into a hollowed out log, the fearless Doña Flor finds the cat, makes him purr and smile instead of roar and menace, and ultimately teaches him how to get along with the other village animals and people.
Doña Flor’s character functions as the town’s matriarch, but also as the land’s goddess, reminiscent of the character of the Hungry Goddess in my previous post on women in Mexican folktale. Doña Flor creates a river with the swift stroke of her large finger, hugs and comforts the agitated and personified wind, and sustains life and peace amongst the community’s diverse inhabitants. The gigantesque woman is also an avid reader and spreads knowledge and literacy throughout the village: “You see, Flor was probably the fastest reader ever. Why, she could read the whole encyclopedia in five minutes. She liked to sit in the shade and read stories and poems nice and slow to the children and animals that climbed all over her soft body.” Doña Flor’s character is absurdly large and unrealistically powerful, yet infused with childhood memories of strong matriarchs, female role-models, and the loving care of inspirational women.
According to Pat Mora’s website, this story takes place in the American Southwest. The text is written in English with Spanish words peppered throughout, reinforcing the bicultural makeup of both the setting and the characters. In addition, certain context clues, such as Colón’s illustrations of the homes and the landscape, as well as the food that Doña Flor prepares, help readers understand the geographical backdrop of the story. Colón’s illustrations also reinforce the story’s “tall tale” elements of exaggeration, while depicting Doña Flor as visibly gentle and warm. Raúl Colón is a renowned Puerto Rican artist who’s illustrated a number of children’s books, as well as covers for the New Yorker and New York Times, and New York City murals. According to a review by Kirkus Reviews, Colón’s illustrations “with his round, swirling scratchboard style in warm, buttery colors,” provide pleasing, soothing consistency throughout this action-filled tale.
A “tall tale” generally refers to any story that uses unrealistic descriptions, such as, in this case, a giant woman who speaks every language of the world. Unlike legends that also exaggerate certain elements, such as historic actions or events, a tall tale’s point of exaggeration is usually the focus of the entire story. For example, Doña Flor’s unrealistically gigantic figure is the central theme of the story, providing wit and intrigue throughout. Mora then skillfully uses this focal point to symbolically emphasize the contributions of women in society, and augment their presence in children’s literature. Tall tales are an important part of the American folkloric canon, and by creating a “tall tale” with a courageous female protagonist, and Spanish words interspersed throughout the text, Mora diversifies this traditional canon and challenges the under-representation of both women and Hispanic heritage.
To further build upon this folkloric tradition, educators could create a lesson in which students create their own tall tale. This would be a fun activity where students let their imaginations run wild with exaggerations and unrealistic character descriptions. To complicate the lesson even further, educators could ask students about people or narratives that they feel are underrepresented in American folklore, and how they could change that through their own tall tales. The tall tale genre is perfect for addressing the underrepresentation of certain groups in children’s literature, since the genre itself allows for the magnification of particular characters, traits, or events.
As previously mentioned, Doña Flor is written in English with occasional Spanish words interspersed throughout the text. Spanish words are used when Doña Flor speaks to the villagers, showing familiarity and warmth, but it is also used when she speaks to the animals of the southwest. Doña Flor’s ability to talk to animals contributes to her magical aura, while her use of Spanish in doing so portrays the Spanish language as a special gift that facilitates communication and reconciliation. Although speaking another language or being a part of another culture may sometimes make young children feel different, this story, in more ways than one, shows just how magical those intercultural and interpersonal differences can be. This “tall tale” not only emphasizes the love that a village has for this strong, courageous woman, but also celebrates the beauty in all of our differences and the magic of coexistence.
For access to the full review and additional resources, check out our Vamos a Leer blog at teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.com
Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart (ages 6-8) is a “tall tale” that uses a series of hyperboles to create an exaggerated and fantastical story. Doña Flor is a beloved member of her community, assisting all her friends and neighbors in any way she can. She carries the children on her back when they’re late to school; she makes giant-sized tortillas for everyone to eat, and always functions as a conciliatory, amiable force amongst the village people. And, finally, when a little mountain lion frightens the village by roaring into a hollowed out log, the fearless Doña Flor finds the cat, makes him purr and smile instead of roar and menace, and ultimately teaches him how to get along with the other village animals and people.
Doña Flor’s character functions as the town’s matriarch, but also as the land’s goddess, reminiscent of the character of the Hungry Goddess in my previous post on women in Mexican folktale. Doña Flor creates a river with the swift stroke of her large finger, hugs and comforts the agitated and personified wind, and sustains life and peace amongst the community’s diverse inhabitants. The gigantesque woman is also an avid reader and spreads knowledge and literacy throughout the village: “You see, Flor was probably the fastest reader ever. Why, she could read the whole encyclopedia in five minutes. She liked to sit in the shade and read stories and poems nice and slow to the children and animals that climbed all over her soft body.” Doña Flor’s character is absurdly large and unrealistically powerful, yet infused with childhood memories of strong matriarchs, female role-models, and the loving care of inspirational women.
According to Pat Mora’s website, this story takes place in the American Southwest. The text is written in English with Spanish words peppered throughout, reinforcing the bicultural makeup of both the setting and the characters. In addition, certain context clues, such as Colón’s illustrations of the homes and the landscape, as well as the food that Doña Flor prepares, help readers understand the geographical backdrop of the story. Colón’s illustrations also reinforce the story’s “tall tale” elements of exaggeration, while depicting Doña Flor as visibly gentle and warm. Raúl Colón is a renowned Puerto Rican artist who’s illustrated a number of children’s books, as well as covers for the New Yorker and New York Times, and New York City murals. According to a review by Kirkus Reviews, Colón’s illustrations “with his round, swirling scratchboard style in warm, buttery colors,” provide pleasing, soothing consistency throughout this action-filled tale.
A “tall tale” generally refers to any story that uses unrealistic descriptions, such as, in this case, a giant woman who speaks every language of the world. Unlike legends that also exaggerate certain elements, such as historic actions or events, a tall tale’s point of exaggeration is usually the focus of the entire story. For example, Doña Flor’s unrealistically gigantic figure is the central theme of the story, providing wit and intrigue throughout. Mora then skillfully uses this focal point to symbolically emphasize the contributions of women in society, and augment their presence in children’s literature. Tall tales are an important part of the American folkloric canon, and by creating a “tall tale” with a courageous female protagonist, and Spanish words interspersed throughout the text, Mora diversifies this traditional canon and challenges the under-representation of both women and Hispanic heritage.
To further build upon this folkloric tradition, educators could create a lesson in which students create their own tall tale. This would be a fun activity where students let their imaginations run wild with exaggerations and unrealistic character descriptions. To complicate the lesson even further, educators could ask students about people or narratives that they feel are underrepresented in American folklore, and how they could change that through their own tall tales. The tall tale genre is perfect for addressing the underrepresentation of certain groups in children’s literature, since the genre itself allows for the magnification of particular characters, traits, or events.
As previously mentioned, Doña Flor is written in English with occasional Spanish words interspersed throughout the text. Spanish words are used when Doña Flor speaks to the villagers, showing familiarity and warmth, but it is also used when she speaks to the animals of the southwest. Doña Flor’s ability to talk to animals contributes to her magical aura, while her use of Spanish in doing so portrays the Spanish language as a special gift that facilitates communication and reconciliation. Although speaking another language or being a part of another culture may sometimes make young children feel different, this story, in more ways than one, shows just how magical those intercultural and interpersonal differences can be. This “tall tale” not only emphasizes the love that a village has for this strong, courageous woman, but also celebrates the beauty in all of our differences and the magic of coexistence.
For access to the full review and additional resources, check out our Vamos a Leer blog at teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.com
April 15, 2020
Dona Flor is an amazing work of folklore that I would love to read with a fourth or fifth grade class. Dona Flor is a story about a woman who is different than everyone else. Though some people are mean to her she continues to be a sweet and compassionate person who looks out for her friends.
I would use this book as a read aloud for my students to introduce the genre of folklore. One activity I would do to utilize this book is to have the students investigate their own folklore stories. There will be a list of stories that are not to be used such as Cinderella and other very common stories. This is to prompt more investigation into different culture's folklore. Another activity we would do is use a common folklore story and explore the different alterations of the story. We would read Cinderella and find different versions of it from different cultures to read and compare the stories.
This book was a WOW book to me because I love Pat Mora in general as an author and I love that there is a specific folklore book that she could pull from her own childhood to share with people. I had never heard this story before now and am so glad that I got to read it!
I would use this book as a read aloud for my students to introduce the genre of folklore. One activity I would do to utilize this book is to have the students investigate their own folklore stories. There will be a list of stories that are not to be used such as Cinderella and other very common stories. This is to prompt more investigation into different culture's folklore. Another activity we would do is use a common folklore story and explore the different alterations of the story. We would read Cinderella and find different versions of it from different cultures to read and compare the stories.
This book was a WOW book to me because I love Pat Mora in general as an author and I love that there is a specific folklore book that she could pull from her own childhood to share with people. I had never heard this story before now and am so glad that I got to read it!
May 20, 2018
A tall tale with a Spanish spin. My students loved that the children in the village floated on Dona Flor's corn tortillas in a pond. "Flor's tortillas were the biggest, bestest tortillas in the whole wide world."
I liked that the puma was little and just roaring through a log to make him sound big. The puma even thought the loud noise was so funny that he rolled on his back and started laughing and laughing--until he saw Dona Flor.
The art work was gorgeous with a yellow hue and texture.
I liked that the puma was little and just roaring through a log to make him sound big. The puma even thought the loud noise was so funny that he rolled on his back and started laughing and laughing--until he saw Dona Flor.
The art work was gorgeous with a yellow hue and texture.
October 21, 2018
Powerful and playful. And I love the art.
April 12, 2020
Beautiful
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews