The Woodcutter’s Gift/El regalo del leñador.

By staff -- Críticas, 12/15/2007

K-Gr 2–After a big storm, a small rural town is devastated to see that the main tree in the Plaza has fallen down. Children and adult alike feel the loss of what symbolized their unity and strength as a community but quarrel about what to do next. While most elders suggest the tree is now useless, children cannot imagine getting rid of it. A woodcutter asks for permission to intervene and, after many days of mysterious work along with the painter, the gardener, and the mason, he unveils a colorful zoo for the Plaza. Everybody rejoices in the transformation, and a renewed feeling of community permeates life in the small town. When city officials arrive to offer the woodcutter money for his efforts and want to place the art piece in a museum, the newfound artist turns down the offer. His work is for the people, he says, and they should be able to enjoy it every day for free. Ruiz-Flores crafts an uncomplicated and heartwarming story that could be set in any Latin American small town, and the colorful, full-page illustrations depict daily life in a small community. Great for reading aloud, this title can spark a meaningful discussion about the role of art in the community .—Liliana Barro Zecker, Associate Professor, School of Education, DePaul Univ., Chicago, IL