Avery and João loved being neighbors! They lived in Jacksonville, in nearby houses. João's house had a big yard with lots of grass, where cows and chickens used to live. Now, João lived with his mom and just one cow named Branca. Sometimes, their only food was milk from Branca. But Avery always brought snacks so they could play in the grass. João’s mom was always happy to see them. João liked to play tag and Avery loved all things sweet. They were playing with Avery's favorite things one day when João’s mom asked him to sell Branca. They needed more than just milk. João was sad. He called Avery, and they went to the market together. They laughed as they walked.
As they passed a corner, they met a kind old man. The old man spoke to João and Avery. “Would you like to trade your cow for some magic beans?” he asked. João and Avery thought about it. “Beans make more food than just milk!” Avery said. “Yes, we will trade!” João said excitedly. The old man smiled and gave them a bag of beans.
When João and Avery got home, João’s mom was shocked. “You traded Branca for beans? You silly boys! Those beans are no good!” she cried. João’s mom told Avery to go home and João to go to bed. João was sad. He didn’t know what they would eat the next day. He was angry with the old man and threw the beans out the window. Then he went to sleep.
The next morning, João was surprised. There was a giant beanstalk growing in the yard! It reached up to the clouds! João’s mom wasn’t sure what to do with it. She decided to let João play with Avery. João and Avery were curious. They wanted to see where the beanstalk went! So they started climbing! It seemed like they were climbing forever! “Look!” Avery shouted as they passed the clouds, “It’s a castle in the sky!” João looked up, wide-eyed. “Wow! Let’s go!”
A giant woman stood at the castle door. She was very tall. “Welcome!” she said. “But please leave. My husband is a giant who eats children!” João and Avery were scared. Suddenly, the ground shook! They ran and hid behind a big pot. João found some gold coins on the ground and put them in his pocket. When they thought they could run away, they did. They climbed down the beanstalk fast.
“I think my hiding place, the Cotton Candy Cloud, is better than this!” Avery said. João agreed. “We should just live simply. We’ll come back for more gold coins when we need them,” he said.
For a long time, João and his mom lived happily with the gold coins. João’s mom even gave Avery pieces of cake to take home. “My family will be so happy with this cake!” Avery said, with a big smile.
Finally, the coins ran out. João and Avery decided to climb the beanstalk again. They were scared of the giant, but they needed more gold. This time, they went into the castle and hid in the kitchen. The giant was feeding a fat hen. João and Avery watched as the hen laid golden eggs. They waited until the giant fell asleep. Then they quickly grabbed the hen. She didn’t make a sound! They climbed down the beanstalk as fast as they could, holding the hen. It was hard, but they did it!
“We’ll always have food now!” João’s mom said happily. But João had seen a golden harp in the castle. He wanted to go back for it. He knew where it was.
The next day, João went up the beanstalk by himself. He wanted to be fast, but the giant was waiting for him at the door. The giant chased João! João ran, but the giant was too fast. João was scared and ran to Avery’s house. He told Avery what happened.
“We have to cut down the beanstalk!” Avery said. “The giant can’t come down then.” They worked hard to chop down the beanstalk. Avery was only 3 years old, so it was hard, but they did it! The giant would never be able to come down again. “You know, we don't need more than we have,” Avery said to João. “The essentials are enough. It’s not worth being scared.”
João’s mom was relieved that the beanstalk was gone. She invited João and Avery to have a snack. And that afternoon, the table at João’s house was full: of bread, cake, love, and laughter! The essentials!
