(2) K-3 Illustrated by Emily Mendoza. This engaging botanical history of the ubiquitous holiday plant begins in southwest Mexico where what we now call poinsettias grew wild. In the fourteenth century, the Nahua people (Aztecs) used the “milky sap” for medicinal purposes, the red leaves (the actual flowers are tiny and yellow) for dye, and the plant itself for dec-oration. The plant was introduced to the U.S. in the 1820s; its association with Christmas was promoted by one California farming family in the 1960s. Friendly illustrations in a muted palette complement the accessible text. A detailed author’s note expands on the information, and a helpful annotated timeline is appended.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2025