A mi me encantan las ilustraciones vívidas y detalladas de este libro, que cuenta una leyenda agradable de la República Dominicana. ( )

Un regalo de gracias. La leyenda de la Altagracia. de Julia Álvarez

Genre: Folklore
Age: Intermidiate
Review/Critique: A girl named Maria lives on a farm that is failing. Her dad goes to the market and brings back some Oranges. Maria has a dream that they should plant the orange seeds and the farm becomes very successful because of it. The book is folklore because it is based on the stories that the author heard as a child from her ansestors.
Media: Drawings ( )

Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Appropriateness: Primary
Media: Watercolor?
Review/Critique:
When Maria's family's olive crop fails, she is met in a dream by Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia. The lady tells her to plant oranges instead of olives, and once they do, Maria's family's crop thrives. This is a story about belief and trusting while also having a focus on family.

This is good fantasy fiction because many of the elements and characters in this book are relatable for children, yet parts of the book would not be able to happen on earth.

A Gift of Gracias is about a young girl whose family's farm is not thriving. The family is almost forced to move. However, after a dream of Our Lady of Altagracia, Maria determines a plan to save the family farm. By planting orange trees and selling the crops, she is able to secure the well-being of her family and gives thanks to Altagracia.

The illustrations are made with gouache.

GENRE: Legend (story of a young hero that is rooted in cultural history of the Virgin Mary and the town of Higuey where she was said to have appeared)

USES:
- present a multicultural perspective and discuss the connection the author had to the story
- have students write their own stories about the power of saying thank you, potentially tying in other ways to say "thank you" in different languages