El barrilito mágico de Papá

K-Gr 3–It’s finally Saturday, and Jesús is super excited to help Papá in his gardening and landscaping work. Papá gives Jesús a very special task and puts him in charge of the barrilito that holds the water they will drink for the day, telling Jesús that when the water is gone from the water jug, it will mean the work day is over, and they can return home. Jesús helps by mowing the grass, pulling weeds, and bringing Papá water when he needs a cool drink. As they visit different houses, Jesús notices cats, dogs, and even some peacocks that look like they could use a cool drink, too. Slowly, the water jug begins to empty, and Papá is shocked when there is no more water left. Where did it all go? Jesús admits he shared with his animal friends and even splashed some on his face. Papá explains they still have quite a bit of work left, and Jesús refills the water jug and works hard to conserve it this time. Together, Jesús and his father work hard and the next time the barrilito is empty, it really is time to head home. Colorful watercolor illustrations and Jesús’s attitude—which is bursting with excitement and positivity—will pull readers in right away, sharing the boy’s outlook and the bright world he lives in with his loving parents. Jesús is shown helping his father with hard work, while they both enjoy being in each other’s company. Readers will have a good laugh every time Jesús shares the water with animals, and his attitude will have them smiling at every turn of the page. Both English and Spanish text versions convey this positive attitude and the joy and love between Jesús and his father, with thought and speech bubbles adding to the conversations between them.