The Woodcutter's Gift / El regalo del lenador

by Lupe Ruiz-Flores, Elaine Jerome (Illustrator), Gabriela Baeza Ventura (Translator)

One day, a terrible thunderstorm knocked down the giant mesquite tree that grew in the town square. After the storm, the townspeople gathered to gawk at the large obstruction blocking the street. They weren't sure what to do with it, but they all agreed that the wood was good for nothing except a fire. But the woodcutter Tomas sees something in the huge tree that the rest of the townsfolk don't. "The beauty of this tree is not on the outside but on the inside." Tomas tells them. In the following days, everyone watches curiously as the woodcutter carves and chips and whittles the wood into blocks. At one point, he moves the chunks into his shed, increasing everyone's curiosity. What could the woodcutter be doing with all that lumber? Finally, Tomas calls the townsfolk together to see his creations: a wonderful collection of life-sized animals for the children to enjoy. Children and adults alike are thrilled with their private zoo But a few weeks later the woodcutter is visited by strangers from a folk art museum who want to buy the pieces for their collection. Will Tomas sell the town's new zoo animals so that others can enjoy them too?

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2007

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

pictures were ok. The zebra was not depicted with purple stripes, nor was the bell depicted as rusty which was what the text indicated. gr. The story was cute nd it was nice to read about a community that comes together. I really respect this book for being solidly bilingual.