independent reading level: Grade 2-3
Awards: Americas Awards 1994

This is the story of the poinsettia and how it became a symbol of Christmas. This book follows Lucinda, a young girl living in Mexico, who is looking forward to Christmas. Her mother and her are given he honor to make the blanket for the baby Jesus in the Nativity scene. Before they are able to finish the blanket, Lucinda's mother becomes ill and is unable to complete it. Lucinda tries to finish it on her own and the blanket becomes a tangled mess. Lucinda feels as though she has disappointed everyone and ruined Christmas. On Christmas Eve the city gathers for a procession, Lucinda hides in the shadows. An elderly woman appears and explains to Lucinda that her mother will be fine and she should return to the procession. Lucinda feels worried that she does not have anything to offer. The woman tells her the beauty of a gift is that it is given. Lucinda gathers green weeds and brings them in to lay at the Nativity scene. When she looks up all of the weeds have blossomed into red flowers, poinsettias. This is a wonderful retelling of a Mexican legend that carries the spirit of Christmas. This would be a great book for a read aloud and in sharing the meaning of a gift. ( )

This is the story of the poinsettia and its importance to the Christmas tradition. This is a Mexican legend full of culture. It is about a little girl and her mother who are making a blanket for baby Jesus for Christmas Eve. The mother becomes ill and they do not finish the blanket in time. The little girl is upset that she has no gift, when a woman appears and tells her that any gift you give to baby Jesus would be appreciated. The little girl picks some weeds and put them by the baby Jesus statue, the weeds turn in to beautiful flowers, the poinsettia flower. This was a sweet reminder that giving from your heart is a gift in itself. ( )

This book tells the story of the poinsetta and how it came to be a major symbol of Christmas. Lucida is a young girl who is excited to help her mother weave a beautiful blanket to give as a gift during Christmas mass to the baby Jesus in the nativity scene. Unfortunately, before the blanket is finished Lucida's mother falls ill. Lucida is upset and decides to try to finish the blanket herself so that she can give it as a gift still, but she ends up tangling the blanket so badly it cannot be fixed in time. Lucida is ashamed that she has no gift and feels that she ruined Christmas until an elderly woman appears near her while she is hiding outside the church. The woman tells her that she has a message: that he mom will be fine and will return so she should join everyone for the Christmas procession. Lucida worries about what to give as an offering, so the woman explains that any gift is beautiful because it is given. I loved the sentiment of gift-giving in her advice, making it about the thought rather than the value. Lucida collects a bundle of tall green weeds to give, which makes people whisper. While she is giving her offering and praying, something magical happens. The green weeds bloom into beautiful red flowers and so do all of the weeds outside the church. They bloom into what we now call poinsettias. Lucida's gift did indeed become beautiful when she gave it as an offering, just like the old woman told her. This retelling of a Mexican legend is very touching and captures the spirit of Christmas. I loved the legend, but the way the book itself was written was not my favorite. This book is very text heavy for a picture book, making it more suited for older children. I think that younger kids could enjoy the story if it's read aloud. ( )

A sweet Christmas miracle story. I may very well have read this to Becky in the 90s, though it feels familiar from way further back, so maybe there is an older picture book of the same legend. ( )