Summary: The Poppy Seeds is a story about a young boy named Pablo who lived in a valley in Mexico where it was very dry and water had be gathered from the river. Everything was brown and dusty. Pablo thinks if only it would rain grass would grow and flowers would bloom. One day while Pablo was gathering water, he helped a little girl find her cup she had dropped in the river while she was trying to get some water. She gave Pablo some poppy seeds for helping her. Pablo’s mother tells him they will not grow because it is too dry. Pablo decides to try anyway. He thinks maybe this year it will rain. He plants a few seeds by each house in the valley. When he goes to old Antonio’s house, Antonio scares him and he runs away and drops the last of the seeds. Nobody goes to Antonio’s house because he thinks they all want water from his spring, and if he gives everyone water from his spring there will be no water left for him. There was no rain and the poppies did not grow in the dry Mexico valley. One day while Antonio was getting some water from his spring he finds some poppies have bloomed. He remembers when he was young having a poppy bed in his front yard. He goes to Pablo’s house and takes him water from his spring, and tells him from now on he can get his water from his spring. They decide to dig a ditch to run the spring water to the valley. All the neighbors now have enough water for drinking and to water their small gardens.

Personal reaction: The story shows how hard life can be in some Mexican valleys with little water for drinking or growing vegetation. I like how the story tells of an old man who keeps to himself and won’t share his water, but through the dreams and effort of one young boy wanting to grow some flowers, the old man ends up helping the whole valley. Dreams and a little effort can make a difference.

Classroom extension: 1. I would use this book on a lesson about plants and seeds. The students could plant flower seeds and watch them grow. 2. I would use this book on a lesson about Mexico. ( )