Picture Book 22: Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart

Author:Pat Mora

Illustrator:Raul Colon

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: folktale

Themes:being yourself, love, generosity, courage and protecting others

Characters:

~Primary: Dona Flor

~Secondary: townspeople and children, puma

Awards:

Date of Publication: 2005

Publication Company: Knoff Books for Young Readers

Summary:Dona Flor is a giant woman who lives to help.  She allows people to use her leftover tortillas for rafts, flowers for trumpets, and gives the children rides to school.  So when teh townspeople are afraid a a giant puma that they can hear in the mountains, Dona Flor is determined to investigate and save her pueblo from the ferocious cat. 

Recommendation: I can think of several ways to use this book, which makes it great for any classroom.  Students can become more familiar with Spanish words and culture in Mexico and the Southwestern United States.  It can be used to talk about communities and how students should help their neighbors.  In addition, students can explore similarities and differences, and how people have the same feelings and desires even if they appear different.