Product Description

Blanca Flor or White Flower was originally a Spanish folktale, which was adapted and retold in Latin America and in New Mexico, where it became a version of Snow White. In South America, criollos told a version closer to the original tale, in which a young woman – Blanca Flor – is instrumental in bringing her suitor through trials set by her possessive and jealous father.

Victor Montejo, a Jacaltec Maya, was told yet a different version by his grandmother. In this rendition of the story, the father, W’itz Ak’al, is none other than the Lord of the Woods, a cacique or king who commands both the natural world and the city. And his daughter, Blanca Flor, is not only a powerful creature in her own right, but she too can command the forces of nature to get her way. Deer instead of horses act as both animal servants and the alter egos of the king and queen. And corn, squash and other native flora and fauna figure in the tale. Wonderfully magical, this folktale with its strong female protagonist is set at the time of the classic Maya civilization, with cities of pyramids set among lush jungles.

Beautifully and romantically illustrated by young Colombian artist Rafael Yockteng, Blanca Flor/White Flower, will introduce many readers to this tale, which is not widely known in the English-speaking world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1319504 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 36 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6–A version of the Spanish folktale Blanca Flor. A young prince has lost everything, including his memory. He meets strong-willed White Flower, daughter of the powerful, magical King Witz Ak'al, and the two young people fall in love. When her father opposes the union, White Flower uses magic and trickery, transforming into a thorn hedge, a foaming lake, a maze of seven paths, and more, to aid in the couple's escape. When she is finally discovered and returned to the palace, her parents relent to the marriage with very little resistance. Softened watercolor and graphite pencil illustrations aid in the telling of the story. They convey fantasy, yet maintain an almost flat, hieroglyphic quality that suggests an inscription on a Mayan temple wall. Although the wordy text sometimes seems to drift, the story is still worthy as an example of Mayan folklore.–Kim Harris, Newman Riga Library, Churchville, NY
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From Booklist
K-Gr. 3. This lengthy tale resets a traditional Spanish folktale in an enchanted Maya empire. After an epidemic steals his wealth, his family, and even his memory, a prince wanders in search of work and shelter. He encounters Witz Ak'al, the shape-shifting Lord of the Forest, who offers riches in exchange for human souls. The noble prince refuses, continues on, and encounters a kingdom, where he finds work. The king, however, is Witz Ak'al in disguise, and in another ploy for the young man's soul, he assigns the prince impossible tasks. Luckily, the king's daughter, White Flower, has mystical powers, and in a twist on tradition, she saves the hero, declares her love, and proposes marriage. Montejo's text is long, so younger children may need several readings to get through the story. But the magic, the dramatic setting, and the girl-powered plot will draw children's interest, as will Yockteng's sun-baked watercolors, which borrow Maya symbols and patterns. A personal source note closes this title, which will be a fine addition to Central American folktale collections. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

CM Magazine
"Yockteng, Rafael 's earth-toned watercolor illustrations are rich with atmosphere."