This book is actually based on a local myth amongst the people of Puerto Rico. I really like the way the book shows that with little luck and perseverance, one can grow something beautifully if given the chance. I think this is a great book to teach to children because it introduces the concept of myths in other places for them. ( )

Author and storyteller Nina Jaffe and illustrator Enrique O. Sánchez join forces in this picture-book presentation of a Taino creation myth from the island of Puerto Rico. In an ancient world with no water, a young boy finds some seeds, and plants them on a mountaintop, where a lush jungle grows. From this jungle a huge pumpkin in turn grows, a pumpkin that, when split open, disgorges all of the waters of the oceans and rivers, and all of the creatures within those waters. So the jungle mountaintop became an island, and Boriquén (Puerto Rico) came to be...

Although I have encountered Taino stories before, in such collections as Pura Belpré's Once in Puerto Rico, I have never before read a picture-book retelling of an individual tale from this people, making The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico a distinct pleasure. The story here is matter-of-factly magical, in that way that myths so often are, and the accompanying artwork, done in acrylic and gouache, is lovely. One must suspend disbelief in stories such as this, of course, but a part of me couldn't help but wonder how the forest and pumpkin grew in the first place, when water wasn't released into the world until the pumpkin split open. Leaving that aside, this was an enjoyable tale, and is one I would recommend to young folklore enthusiasts, and to readers seeking traditional Puerto Rican and/or Taino tales. ( )

This is a wonderful creation story that says so much about the Island of Puerto Rico and its first people. After reading the story my daughter said " I didn't know Puerto Rico had forests and pumpkins and flowers! it sounds beautiful!
This book would be a wonderful compliment to a discussion about modern Puerto Rico, Islands, ancient peoples and even geography. The water color images are bright and beautiful and could tell the story even without text.

This is a beautifully colored book about a historical group of people on an island of Puerto Rico. In the beginning of the book, the world had no plants or water. The young boy found seeds to plant and miraculously created the "golden flower"The illustrations are created with colors, symbols, and lines that represent the culture of the island while sharing the myth of how the ocean and island were created. ( )

A long time ago in Puerto Rico, villagers gathered around to listen to the myth of a Taino tale. Imagine yourself living in a world with no water. Long ago Puerto Rico known as Boriquen at the time, longed for water. One day a young boy finds a seed and another and brings them to the top of the mountain to plant them. A forest begins to grow with a beautiful flower and a great golden ball at the top. This shimmering globe becomes an object that two men begin to fight over what seems to be a Pumpkin from the image. This pumpkin is special, because it holds the ocean inside. When the two men let it go the pumpkin slid down the mountain releasing the ocean. The villagers then saw the beautiful water flowing around their land. Now people were able to splash in the streams and could drink the cool water. There was joy brought to the land and now everyone could enjoy a world filled with water! I really enjoyed reading the myth from Puerto Rico and what life might have been like for them a long time ago. ( )