Jack and the Beanstalk with Lily

Lily and João loved being neighbors! They lived in houses near each other in Washington. João’s house had a huge yard, all grassy. Many cows and chickens used to live there, but now there was only one cow, Branca. João lived with his mother and Branca, and sometimes their only food was milk from the cow. But Lily and João always played together, and Lily brought snacks to share! João loved playing tag, and Lily loved to talk to animals.

One day, João's mother asked him to sell Branca. She said they needed more than just milk. João was sad, so he called Lily. They laughed and went to the market together. But when they passed a corner, they met a kind old man. He quickly came over and talked to them.

"Would you like to sell your cow?" the old man asked João.

"Yes, we do!" João said.

"Then I have just the thing! I have magic beans that will provide food for everyone," said the old man. He held out a handful of beans.

Lily smiled and said, "Beans make yummy food!"

João thought, "Beans will be more helpful than just milk."

He nodded. "Okay, we will take your beans!"

They were so excited. João ran back home and told his mother about the beans. She gasped and started to cry!

"Oh, João!" she said. "That old man tricked you! You don’t want his beans!"

She told João to go to bed, and she asked Lily to go home. João was so sad, and he didn’t know what to do. That night, he threw the beans out the window.

The next morning, João woke up and looked out the window. He couldn’t believe his eyes! A huge beanstalk had grown in the yard. It was so big, it reached up to the clouds! João’s mother was surprised, but she wasn’t worried. She told João he could play with Lily.

"Let's climb it!" Lily exclaimed.

João smiled and they began to climb the beanstalk. It seemed to go on forever! Lily climbed with João, holding onto the beanstalk with her little hands.

Finally, after a long climb, they passed the clouds and reached the top! There, they found a giant castle! A giant woman, very tall, greeted them at the door.

"Welcome! Come in!" she said kindly. But she quickly added, "My husband is a giant who eats children. You must leave!"

João and Lily were scared. The ground began to shake! They quickly hid behind a big rock. As they hid, they found some gold coins on the ground. João picked them up and put them in his pocket.

When they thought the giant was asleep, they ran out of the castle and climbed down the beanstalk as fast as they could.

"Our secret hideout in the Enchanted forest is better than this place," Lily said.