Francisco's grandfather, Abuelo, does not speak English. He is newly arrived from Mexico where he worked as a carpenter but Francisco eagerly assures Ben that Abuelo is a gardener. Abuelo and Francisco need the dollars that Abuelo would earn but neither one of them knows anything about gardening and at the end of their work day when Ben returns, he finds they have weeded away all of his plants and left him with rows of weeds in their place.
This is where Abuelo begins to find his voice and his place in this new country. He asserts himself and insists that he and his grandson fix the damage they have done and takes back the role of the adult, telling Francisco they do not lie no matter what the situation.
32 pages 978-0395845189 Ages 4-7
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com