Jack and the Beanstalk with Charlotte

Charlotte and João loved being neighbors! They lived in San Jose, in nearby houses. The only difference was that João had a huge yard, all grassy, where many cows and chickens used to live. Nowadays, João lived with his mother and a single cow in the yard, named Branca. Sometimes, Branca’s milk was all they had to eat in a day. But whenever Charlotte could, she brought some snacks to ensure endless playtime on the grass. João’s mother was always grateful. João loved playing tag, and Charlotte enjoyed their shared interest in Monsters. That day, they were drawing pictures of their favorite Monsters, giggling at each other's silly creations.

One day, João’s mother asked him to sell Branca because they needed more than just milk. So João called Charlotte, and with laughter, they headed to the market. But when they passed by a corner, they met a kind old man who quickly came to talk to João and Charlotte.

“Hello, young ones,” he said, his voice warm and gentle. “I see you have a beautiful cow there. Would you be interested in trading her for some magic beans?”

João and Charlotte looked at each other, curious. They quickly thought, beans provide more food than milk!

“Magic beans?” Charlotte asked, her black eyes sparkling with excitement. “What kind of magic?”

“These beans are special,” the old man replied, smiling. “They can grow a beanstalk that reaches the clouds. And at the top, you might find a treasure beyond your wildest dreams!”

João and Charlotte’s eyes widened with wonder. They couldn’t resist the magic beans!

“Okay!” João said, his voice full of excitement. “We’ll trade Branca for the beans!”

They handed Branca’s rope to the old man and received a bag full of magic beans. João and Charlotte were ecstatic! They couldn’t wait to show the beans to João’s mother!

When they returned to João’s house, João’s mother started crying when she heard the news! The old man had tricked João and Charlotte. She explained that those magic beans were a myth, just a silly story to make kids happy, but no one ever got rich by planting magic beans!

João’s mother asked Charlotte to go home and for João to go to bed. That night, João was sad and threw the beans out the window in anger. He cried because he didn’t know what they would eat the next day.

The next morning, João woke up and looked out the window. A giant beanstalk, so tall it reached the clouds, had grown in João’s yard! João’s mother was surprised. Though she wasn’t sure what to do with the beanstalk, she didn’t worry and let João meet Charlotte to go play.

João and Charlotte, always curious, decided to climb the beanstalk! And the climb seemed endless… Charlotte, always sporty, climbed up quickly, and João followed, panting but determined. Finally, when they passed the clouds, they found a giant castle! A giant woman, very tall indeed, welcomed João and Charlotte. She was kind but warned them to leave because her husband was a giant who ate children!