A Mango in the Hand

K-Gr 3—It is Francisco's saint day, and he wants mangoes for dessert. Papá declares him old enough to pick them, so the boy sets off, passing the homes of Tío Tito, Abuela, and "crabby" Tía Clara en route. But when he tries to pick the fruit, Francisco is first frightened by bees, and then, because he tries to collect too many at once, ends up smashing them. With each setback, he returns home for help, but Papá insists that his son find a way to accomplish the task. Eventually, he does, but his bounty disappears as he gives the fruit away to his relatives when he passes their houses on the way home. He even manages to engage Tía Clara, who "didn't sound so crabby after all," in conversation. Good-naturedly sitting down to a meal without mangoes, for "Sometimes, it's better to give than to receive," the family is surprised by the arrival of their relatives, who bring gifts of their own. The large, digitally colored pencil and ink stylized cartoon illustrations contain cultural elements such as a string of chilies hanging in the kitchen, labeled ethnic foods, and vegetation. Proverbs, appearing first in Spanish, then in English, are sprinkled naturally throughout the text without being intrusive, and there are many Spanish phrases, translated in a glossary, as well. Read this story aloud to spark a discussion of proverbs and to encourage problem-solving efforts.—Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT