Paco and the Giant Chile Plant

By Keith Polette

Illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba

Published by Raven Tree Press

ISBN-10: 0-9770906-2-0

Price: $16.95US

Pages: 32

Hot and spicy chile beans…and Paco!

When I first read the title I wondered why anyone would recreate the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale. After reading it, I realized the unique added twists to this story compounded by the Spanish words tossed here and there gave it a thoroughly different flavor.

Meet Paco and his mother, who have no choice but to sell their ‘vaca’ (cow) in order to get some ‘pesos’ to survive.

The beginning, although similar to the famous tale, reads differently because of the strewn Spanish words. By the middle, the reader is in for a delightful twist. I didn’t see it coming and that’s why I fell in love with Paco and the Giant Chile Plant.

I highly recommend this children’s book, beautifully illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba.