Papa Gave Me a Stick

PreS-Gr 1—When Antonio and his papa hear a mariachi band, Antonio wants a "guitarra…one with a felt strap." But papa does not have the money, so instead he gives his son a stick. The stick is then used to start a fire to warm a dog. The dog in turn gives Antonio a tortilla. Though Antonio doesn't know what good a tortilla is any more than the stick, he feeds a starving bird that gives him string. One by one, each item is used to help another animal, ending with a cat that gives Antonio a gold ring. With that gold ring, Antonio saves a mariachi player's wedding day—and in return gets his guitarra with a felt strap—much as his own father did when he was Antonio's age. Illustrations are soft and gently colored, creating a sense of place. A glossary of Spanish words used (with pronunciation) is included as well as the English and Spanish names of instruments in a mariachi band.