Dona Flor

Bibliography
Mora, Pat. 2005. Dona Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart. Illustrated by Raul Colon. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 978375923373.

Plot Summary
Dona Flor’s mother used to sing to her as a baby. When Flor’s mother sang the plants and trees grew very tall and so did Flor. Dona Flor became so tall that she could reach the clouds. Although, children laughed at her for being different soon Flor’s friends and neighbors asked for her help. Flor was very helpful and she took care of her friends and neighbors. She would make biggest and the best tasting tortilla’s for her friends. When she stopped growing she made a house for herself and people, animals, and plants were all always welcome to come to her house. One day people in the village were frightened by the loud roar for a lion. Nobody wanted to step outside their house. Dona Flor had to help her neighbors! With the help of animal friends Dona Flor finally finds out who was making that loud noise.

Bibliography
Pat Mora has written a very enchanting tall tale of a larger than life woman. The story is very gripping and children will want to keep turning pages to find out who was making the loud noise that scared the people in the village. Raul Colon’s illustrations skillfully shows the largeness of the character who can play with clouds and touch the sun. If you have read Pat Mora’s Tomas and the Library Lady with Raul Colon’s illustration then the texture of the illustrations will be very familiar. Raul Colon uses the same illustrations techniques with lines and warm, sun burnt colors that gives the story unique movement and expressions. Pat Mora does not miss to add a scene where Dona Flor picks a book from the library and reads to her friends. Pat Mora has a distinguished style of conveying the message of the importance of reading.

Pat Mora uses a lot of Spanish words in the story and the transition between Spanish and English is very smooth. But it would have helped to have a list of Spanish words used in the story and their meanings for the English speaking readers.

Children will thoroughly enjoy this tall tale and is a great read aloud.