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KIRSTEN MCDONALD
AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Carlos and Carmen: Tío Time
Summary: The fun begins when the twins wake up to a yard filled with snow. When Uncle Alex comes over, the snowballs start flying. Eventually, hunger strikes but not for long because Uncle Alex is ready with a special recipe from Mexico. Newly independent readers will be as surprised as the twins when they learn what's cooking in the oven.
Word Count: 1000 words
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Chapter 1: Hooray Day
Spooky patted Carlos’s nose, but he did not wake up. She batted Carlos’s ear, but he did not wake up. Finally, she licked his cheek with her tiny, pink tongue, and he sat up in bed.
“Buenos días to you too,” said Carlos.
He scratched Spooky under her chin and said, “Your fur is cold.”
He rubbed her back and said, “Your fur is wet.”
He let Spooky’s tail slip through his fingers and said, “And, little bits of ice are stuck to your tail.”
Carlos jumped out of bed and looked out of his window. Everything everywhere was covered in snow.
Carlos and Spooky ran into Carmen’s room. They pounced onto Carmen’s bed.
“Get up!” Carlos shouted.
“Murr-uhhh,” added Spooky.
Carlos jumped off the bed and ran to Carmen’s window.
“Come see what’s in our yard,” Carlos said.
“Is it Tío Alex and his secret recipe?” Carmen asked with a yawn.
Carlos had forgotten all about Tío Alex and his secret recipe. He jumped up and down and said, “Oh, boy! This is going to be a triple-iple, best-ever, hooray day! Tío Alex, a secret recipe, and snow!”
“Snow!?” Carmen exclaimed, and she raced to the window.
Carlos and Carmen stared out at their backyard. There was snow on the bushes. There was snow on the trees. There was even snow on top of the tire swing.
“Let’s go play in the snow,” said Carmen.
The twins ran out of the room, but Spooky did not. She did not like snow. She liked warm, snuggy beds, so she curled up in Carmen’s covers and went to sleep.
Chapter 2: Snowballs and Cocoa
Chapter 3: The Secret Recipe
Chapter 4: The Yummy Surprise