Picture Book: A Day’s Work
Author: Eve
Bunting
Illustrator: Ronald
Himler
Summary: Francisco
is a young boy whose grandfather has just arrived from Mexico and speaks no
English. It’s Saturday, so grandson and grandfather go to be day laborers. When
a man needs one laborer to do some gardening, Francisco convinces him to take
them both and tells him that his grandfather is an experienced gardener which
is not true. They are given brief instructions on-site to weed a large area,
being sure to pull the roots. Then they are left alone. At the end of the day,
the employer arrives and is furious that they have pulled the wrong plants. When
the grandfather realizes that Francisco lied, he says they will return the next
day for free to plant the correct plants. When offered partial payment, the
grandfather refuses, saying they will take payment when the job is done. The
employer is impressed by the grandfather’s work ethic and says he will hire him
again and teach him gardening. Francisco is relieved that more money will be
coming into their home.
Hanna’s Comments: There are several aspects of this story that I think are
particularly valuable. One is the context of day laboring which is a very real facet
of many cultures that remains hidden to most children. Francisco’s love and
pride in his grandfather and his desire to be a working man himself are
poignant and realistic. Lastly, there is a struggle for basic needs that is an
underlying theme here. Francisco is hoping that they will make enough to have meat
for dinner and his grandfather’s presence will make a significant difference in
his family’s income. You might want to also consider with your listeners the
symbolic meaning of the concept of roots in this story and how it connects with
religious values.
Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Clarion Books, 1994
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
# of Pages: 32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other than Book: Tablet, Audio
PBT Category:
Pre 2K
PBT Topics this Book connects with: affirmation, aliens/immigrants/refugees/strangers,
ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, babies/children, commitment,
communication, consequences/punishment, dependence/interdependence,
deception/dishonesty/lies, ethics, family, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing,
goodness, grace, grandparents, labor/work, language/literacy/reading, legacies,
Mexico, North America, partners/teamwork, poverty, pride, sin, truth
Scripture Connections: The story of Ruth and Naomi (the book of Ruth); commit
your work to the Lord and your plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3); train
children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6); blessed is the one who
trusts in the Lord…like a tree that sends out roots by the stream… (Jeremiah
17-7-8); you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to
comprehend (Ephesians 3:17); walk in Christ, rooted and built up in him and
established in the faith as you were taught (Colossians 2:6-7); do not lie to
one another (Colossians 3:9); work heartily, as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who
are learning about integrity in poverty or hard labor, the commandment to not
lie, and/or how values are passed on from generation to generation.
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