Doña Flor is a giant woman who lives in a puebla with lots of families. She loves her neighbors–she lets the children use her flowers fo...
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Jan 25, 2010
Sam
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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 wha More...
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 wha More...
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Mar 06, 2011
Esther
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Published in 2005 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Interest Level: 3rd-5th
This is a folk tale about a giant woman called Dona Flor that protects a town. The beginning portion of the book covers how Dona Flor lives her daily life as a giant woman. The story goes on to how Dona Flor protects her town from a supposed large puma that the townspeople are afraid of. Eventually, Dona Flor goes in search of the animal and finds that it is a small puma with a great big horn that is ampli More...
Interest Level: 3rd-5th
This is a folk tale about a giant woman called Dona Flor that protects a town. The beginning portion of the book covers how Dona Flor lives her daily life as a giant woman. The story goes on to how Dona Flor protects her town from a supposed large puma that the townspeople are afraid of. Eventually, Dona Flor goes in search of the animal and finds that it is a small puma with a great big horn that is ampli More...
Dec 08, 2010
Patricia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Sep 22, 2010
Leo
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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 understandi
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 understandi
Dec 05, 2009
earthy
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Dona Flor, a giant woman living in a southwestern village, discovers that her regularly-sized neighbors are frightened by the sound of a loud puma which comes at night, so she decides to protect the village by uncovering the truth about the big cat.
Colon's pale colors and rich textures make Flor's world seem realistic and appealing, which is very important when the reader is supposed to suspend disbelief about such a large woman! Pictures generally take up a full page and are simple More...
Colon's pale colors and rich textures make Flor's world seem realistic and appealing, which is very important when the reader is supposed to suspend disbelief about such a large woman! Pictures generally take up a full page and are simple More...
Dec 19, 2011
Caitlin
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Dona Flor is a folk tale about a giant woman who grew to an enormous size because her mother sang to her. She is a Paul Bunyan-esque friendly giant, always helping out her village in ways that only a giant can-- she makes gigantic tortillas that people use as roofs, pokes a thumb into the ground to make a river spring up, and hugs a vicious wind all night to calm him down. Her enormous size is exaggerated in the text, like when she was startled and jumped up, only to hit the sun with her head an
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Jul 09, 2011
Stephanie
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Dona Flor was a 2006 Pura Belpre Award winner for illustrations and an honor book for narrative. Pat Mora sets this tall tale in the American Southwest. Dona Flor is a kind-hearted woman whose mother’s beautiful singing caused her to grow as tall as a giant. She is greatly loved by all the villagers for her gentle nature and helpfulness. Her tortillas are used as roofs and rafts, and she carries the children to school on her shoulders. The plot becomes suspenseful when the villagers begin
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Jun 22, 2010
Hannah
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Oct 15, 2009
Amanda
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Dona Flor is a woman that has grown to be a giant size. Everyone in her town loves her and she is very gentle and kind to everyone. She has made herself a home that she can fit into and even makes enormous tortillas for the people of the town. The tortillas even are used for roofs and rafts for the neighbors. There is a scare in the town and Dona Flor feels it is her responsibility to find out where the huge roar is coming from. She, along with her animal friends, goes out searching for the
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Oct 31, 2011
lprater
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Latino Story: In this story, a larger than life woman, Dona Flor, brings happiness and comfort to the people in her village. From making tortillas the size of roof tops to creating riverbeds, Dona Flor helped her neighbors the best way she could. When a frightening puma lurked in area, Dona Flor used her ability to talk with animals to find the little creature, who became her friend. I liked how the story included spanish words, here and there, to add to the latin tone of the book. The illus
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Feb 21, 2009
Christy
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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 More...
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 More...
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Oct 14, 2009
NS-Christine
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When Flor was a baby, her mother sang to her, just like she sang to the corn plants that grew as tall as trees! Just like the corn plants, Flor grew and grew. Dona Flor is special. She can speak to butterflies and snakes, makes the biggest tortillas, and often reads to the children of the village. When the people of her village hear the cries of a mountain lion, they are all afraid to leave the house. Dona Flor decides to find the big puma that's scaring all of her friends. What she finds
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Jan 29, 2012
Yessenia
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A tall tale about a tall hipanic woman. Dona Flor is a woman who grew to be very tall due to her mother singing to her. Anything her mother sang would grow to be very tall. Despite being laughed and as a child Dona Flor did not grow resentful with the towns people. She instead would do all possible to help the town. so much so that she did everything she could to locate a puma that was haunting the town. this book shows that physical differnces should not hinder you instead you should use these
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May 13, 2011
Q_Barb
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A Spanish tall tale, about an oversized woman who loves and cares for her community and when everyone is scared about a animal roaring somewhere in the mountains, she sets out to find it and save her friends. Ending is so endearing. Illustrations and methaphoric imagery is so inviting. Although like with any tall tale, you have to leave reality at the door, this story also teaches about accepting and caring for those that are different, that everyone person is worthy of respect and to be valued.
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Feb 02, 2009
Katie
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This book is a tall tale about a giant woman and the town below her. The story was a little weird to me, but then again, it is a tall tale. The illustrations reminded me of Aesop’s Fables or a book of Greek mythology I had when I was little. I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. One thing is for sure, Dona Flora loves her town and the people who live in it. That aspect of the book was loud and clear to me; other aspects of the book, including the plot, did come out as clear.
Apr 01, 2009
Sarah
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The tale of Doña Flor is fresh and also feels like a Greek myth never told until now, and Mora’s playful storytelling harmonizes with larger-than-life, thrilling watercolor and pencil drawings.
• Potential Use: Great storytime book, for both writing and pictures.
• Child Appeal: A tall-tale in every sense: a gentle giantess has god-like powers, tames animals, makes tortillas the villagers use for boats and sings to the plans so they grow incredibly large. Pure delight.
• Potential Use: Great storytime book, for both writing and pictures.
• Child Appeal: A tall-tale in every sense: a gentle giantess has god-like powers, tames animals, makes tortillas the villagers use for boats and sings to the plans so they grow incredibly large. Pure delight.
Jun 26, 2010
Cammym
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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 Be More...
Available in Spanish.
Picture book, tall tale, multicultural. Pura Be More...
May 13, 2011
The 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.
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Jul 02, 2009
Rachel
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Fell in love with this book, a story about Dona Flor, a giantess who loves everyone and speaks to the animals and birds in their own languages. It is reminiscent of stories like Jerdine Nolen's "Big Jabe" and the tall tale Paul Bunyan, but is thankfully about a woman. I do love tall tales, but they seem to be exclusively about white men. She reminds me of my friend Sioux, who also is a tall lady with a big heart (and for whom I want to buy this book for).
Apr 23, 2009
Sarah
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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.
Oct 10, 2009
Katy
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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.
Sep 28, 2009
Bernice
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Dona Flor is a giant woman with a giant heart. Throughout the story Dona Flor finds ways to help her neighbors, especially when they are faced with a puma in their home. Written within the story are words in Spanish. It bring out the culture ingrained throughout the text. In the end, Dona Flor finds that the puma is merely a Pumito and calms all the fears of the people.
Sep 05, 2010
Ruth
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This book is written in Spanglish . . . mostly English sentences with Spanish words thrown in throughout the text. Typical of a tall tale, there is exaggeration (her leftover tortillas are used for rafts or roofs) and the main character is likeable and heroic. A beautifully illustrated work that you won't want to miss!
Jul 25, 2010
Lindsey
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PURA BELPRE NARRATIVE HONOR AWARD (2006)
GOLDEN KITE AWARD
Format: Picture Book
Age level: Elementary
Protagonist: Dona Flor, a giant lady
Brief Summary: This is a traditional tale of a woman known as Dona Flor. Dona Flor grows up to be a giant; however, she is known throughout her town for her love and kindness. When troubles threaten the village and her neighbors, Dona Flor steps in to save the day.
GOLDEN KITE AWARD
Format: Picture Book
Age level: Elementary
Protagonist: Dona Flor, a giant lady
Brief Summary: This is a traditional tale of a woman known as Dona Flor. Dona Flor grows up to be a giant; however, she is known throughout her town for her love and kindness. When troubles threaten the village and her neighbors, Dona Flor steps in to save the day.
Feb 22, 2008
babyhippoface
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In this original tall tale, giantess Doña Flor earns the respect of the villagers through her kindness and hospitality. When the villagers feel threatened by the tremendous growls of what sounds like a giant cat, Doña comes to the rescue. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the sensory-stimulating text (“She gave the school band her hollyhocks to use as trumpets. The music smelled like spring.”) Raul Colón’s textured illustrations, created with watercolor washes, etching, and colored and lith
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Apr 22, 2009
Jeanene
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The artwork in this book is amazing. I love this story. It teaches that you should accept everyone even if they are different and that you should always help each other. It is a great story to use for a lesson on tall tales to make it a multicultural lesson.
May 01, 2011
Shannon
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After reading a string of (white) American tall tales, my kids LOVED this book. They compared it to Swamp Angel and The Woman Who Outshone the Sun. I adored the art. A well-deserved Pura Belpre award winner.
Aug 24, 2011
Stacey
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I would put this with Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill stories--because of the Southwest setting. Beautiful illustrations!
Jul 12, 2010
Kathy
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Pura Belpre Award. I enjoyed reading and listening to this book. The pictures are exceptionally beautiful.
Mar 10, 2011
Lisa C
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Interesting folklore I wasn't familiar with, and lovely artwork. The "big cat" is adorable.
