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. ( )

This book would be great during a lesson that involves culture, Christmas, or holidays and what each culture does. In this book it talks about a little girl during Christmas time in Mexico. She wants to bring a gift to the manger, but she brings a bundle of weeds since she has nothing else. Her gift turns into the most beautiful gift of all. This book is ideal for every age and can be used for social studies. ( )

This beautiful Mexican story of the la Flor de Nochebuena, the Flower of the Holy Night - the poinsettia is one I had not read before. I love poinsettias and do now even more because of this story. This would be a great story to read on one of the last days before Christmas vacation. Poinsettias are plentiful at that time and if affordable the students could take a small one home as a gift for their parents and share the story with them.