by Patsy J. Robles-Goodwinillustrated by Nick Inglish

by Patsy J. Robles-GoodwinIllustrated by Nick Inglish

© 2011, Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the expressed written consent of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Keep America Beautiful, Inc. attn: Communications Department, 1010 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT 06901.

www.kab.org

On a warm spring day, Farmer Paco planted a jalapeño seed in the community garden.

He dreamed of the day that his jalapeño would be one of the vegetables used to make hot sauce called salsa to share with his friends and other gardeners.

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Every day, Farmer Paco watered the soil around the jalapeño seed, and pulled up the weeds and grass around it.

But nothing came up.

He waited and waited, and esperó, but nothing came up…while the other gardeners’ tomatoes, onions, and cilantro grew rapidly.

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Farmer Paco continued watering the soil around the jalapeño seed, and pulled up more weeds and grass around it.

Then one day…a jalapeño plant came up.

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The jalapeño plant grew…

and became very, very

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The jalapeño plant grew…

and became very, very

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When the time was right, Farmer Paco went to his jardín and tried to pull the big jalapeño from the plant.

He pulled…

and he pulled…

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“Ay! Ay! Ay!,” cried Farmer Paco. “I cannot pull this enormous jalapeño by myself! I need help from the other gardeners.”and he pulled even harder.

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“Margarita, dear,” he called to his wife, “Please come help me pull this large jalapeño from the plant!”

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“You are old and tired, Farmer Paco,” Mamá Margarita said. “I will help you pull the jalapeño.”

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Farmer Paco and Mamá Margarita walked to the jardín.

Farmer Paco pulled at the jalapeño. Mamá Margarita pulled at the jalapeño.

They pulled, and pulled, and pulled.

“Ay! Ay! Ay!,” said Mamá Margarita. “We cannot pull this big jalapeño! I will call daughter, Juanita. She is a good gardener. She is young and strong. She will help us pull the jalapeño from the plant.”

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“Hija Juanita! Hija Juanita!” she called to their daughter.

“Here I am! Here I am! What is it?” asked Juanita.

“Please, come and help us pull this big jalapeño from the plant,” asked Mamá Margarita.

“Surely I will. That will be easy, Mamá Margarita,” Juanita replied.

Farmer Paco pulled at the jalapeño; Mamá Margarita pulled at Farmer Paco; Hija Juanita pulled at Mamá Margarita.

They pulled, and pulled, and pulled.

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“Ay! Ay! Ay!” said Juanita. “We cannot pull this enormous jalapeño from the plant!“

“We will call Pecitos. He is a good dog, and he will help us.”

“Perrito Pecitos! Perrito Pecitos! Come and help us!”

“Bow-wow-wow!” barked Pecitos as he ran to the jardín.

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Farmer Paco pulled at the jalapeño; Mamá Margarita pulled at Farmer Paco; Hija Juanita pulled at Mamá Margarita; and Perritos Pecitos pulled at Hija Juanita.

They pulled, and pulled, and pulled.

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“Bow-wow-wow!” barked Pecitos. “We cannot pull this gigantic jalapeño from the plant! We will call Blancita. She is a very clever cat, and she will help us.”18

“Gatita Blancita! Gatita Blancita! Come and help us!” called Perrito Pecitos. “We cannot pull this gigantic jalapeño from the plant!”

“Meow-meow-meow,” answered Blancita, “I don’t eat jalapeños, but I will help you! Meow-meow-meow!”

Farmer Paco pulled at the jalapeño; Mamá Margarita pulled at Farmer Paco; Hija Juanita pulled at Mamá Margarita; Perrito Pecitos pulled at Hija Juanita; and Gatita Blancita pulled at Perrito Pecitos.

They pulled, and pulled, and pulled.19

“Meow-meow-meow!” cried Blancita, “We cannot pull this gigantic jalapeño from the plant! I will call the little field mouse. She will help us.”

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“The little field mouse?” the others asked.

“Yes,” Blancita meowed, “Little Field Mouse! Little Field Mouse! Please come and help us! We cannot pull this big jalapeño from the plant!”

“Ee-Ee-Ee,” squeaked the little field mouse. “I will help you pull the jalapeño. Ee-Ee-Ee!”

Farmer Paco pulled at the jalapeño; Mamá Margarita pulled at Farmer Paco; Hija Juanita pulled at Mamá Margarita; Perrito Pecitos pulled at Hija Juanita; Gatita Blancita pulled at Perrito Pecitos; and the little field mouse pulled at Gatita Blancita. 21

They pulled, and pulled, and pulled…

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They pulled, and pulled, and pulled…

Now, it was time for a BIG FIESTA to celebrate!The other community gardeners brought their baskets full of onions, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro, and lots of delicious salsa was made. The children played with a piñata, while people danced and sang together.

The fiesta was so much fun! Everyone was excited and looking forward to their next garden!

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Glossary of Spanish Words

jalapeño - hot pepper

salsa - hot sauce

esperó - waited

jardín - garden

grande - big

hija - daughter

perrito - puppy

gatita - kitten

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by Patsy J. Robles-Goodwinillustrated by Nick Inglish