The Giving Flower

"From Pura Belpre Honoree Alda P. Dobbs and illustrator Emily Mendoza comes a lyrical and vibrant picture book history of the Poinsettia flower and the holiday traditions it has inspired. In the Mexican state of Guerrero, after the harvest moon rises, north winds swirl, days turn short, and shadows grow long. This is when the giving flower blooms. The story of the Poinsettia goes back through hundreds of years, treasured by the Aztecs, the inspriation for Mexico's most famous Christmas legend. After the flower caught the eye of the first US ambassador to Mexico, it was named after him. A century later, millions of Americans saw the brilliant red flower on their first color television screens. Award-winning author Alda Dobbs and artist Emily Mendoza bring to life the history of this beautiful and uniquely new world holiday icon. Includes detailed back matter with a timeline"-- Provided by publisher.