Emily and João loved being neighbors! They lived in houses near each other in Philadelphia. João lived in a big house with a huge yard. In the past, lots of cows and chickens lived there! But now, João lived with his mom and only one cow named Branca. Sometimes, Branca’s milk was all they had to eat. Whenever Emily could, she brought snacks to João’s house. João’s mom was always so happy to see Emily and João playing together. João loved to play tag, and Emily loved playing with flowers.
One day, João’s mom asked João to sell Branca. They needed more than just milk to eat. João called Emily, and they laughed as they walked to the market together. But when they passed by a corner, they saw a kind old man. He quickly came up to João and Emily.
“Would you like some magic beans?” the old man asked. “In exchange for your cow!”
João and Emily were surprised! “Beans give more food than milk!” Emily said. “Yes,” João said. “We’ll take the beans!”
So João and Emily went back to João’s house. They told João’s mom about the beans. “What?” João’s mom cried. “You traded Branca for beans?”
She told Emily to go home and João to go to bed. João was very sad. He didn’t know what they would eat now! He was so angry that he threw the beans out the window and went to sleep.
The next morning, João was amazed! A huge beanstalk grew up to the clouds in his yard! João’s mom wasn’t sure what to do. Should she sell the beans? She didn’t worry too much. She let João go play with Emily.
João and Emily were always curious. “Let’s climb the beanstalk!” Emily said. So they started climbing. It felt like they were climbing forever! Emily helped João climb up. She was so kind! When they passed the clouds, they found a giant castle! A giant woman, very tall indeed, welcomed them. “Hello, children,” she said. “But you should leave! My husband is a giant who eats children!”
The ground began to shake! João and Emily quickly hid behind a big rock. There, they found some gold coins on the ground. João quickly put them in his pocket. They thought they could run away from the giant. So they ran as fast as they could! They climbed down the beanstalk quickly.
“Our hiding place, the secret garden, is much better than this!” Emily said.
“Yes,” João agreed. “We will live simply. But when the coins run out, we will climb the beanstalk again!”
For a long time, João and his mom lived simply but comfortably with the coins. João’s mom gave Emily pieces of cake to take home. “Thank you, João’s mom! My family will love this!” Emily said. She was always so caring!
But eventually, the coins ran out. João and Emily decided to climb the beanstalk again. They knew about the giant, but they were brave. This time, they entered the castle and hid in the kitchen. There, the giant was taking care of a fat hen. João and Emily watched in surprise. The hen laid golden eggs! They waited for the giant to fall asleep, and then they quickly took the hen. The hen didn’t make any noise! Emily helped João carry the hen. They climbed down the beanstalk with the hen. It was hard, but they did it!
“We will always have something to eat now!” João’s mom said happily.
But João had seen a golden harp in the castle. “I will go back alone,” he said. “I will get the harp!”
The next day, João went back to the beanstalk. He climbed up again. He knew where the harp was. He wanted to be quick. But the giant was waiting for João at the door! The giant chased João. But João finally managed to escape!
João was very distressed. He ran to Emily’s house and told her what happened.
“We have to cut down the beanstalk!” Emily said. “The giant can’t come down anymore! João’s mom is happy with the hen that lays golden eggs!”
So João and Emily climbed the beanstalk again. They cut down the beanstalk! It was a lot of work, especially for seven-year-old Emily. But they did it! The giant would never come down again!
“All we need are the essentials,” Emily said. “Nothing more, nothing less! Danger isn’t worth it!”
João’s mom was relieved. The beanstalk was gone! She invited João and Emily for a delicious afternoon snack.
And that afternoon, the table at João’s house was full: of bread, cake, love, and laughter! The essentials!
