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KIRSTEN MCDONALD

Carlos and Carmen: The One-Tire House

 

Summary:  In their first adventure, Carlos and Carmen,  six year old twins, get some unexpected news. They’re moving to a new house.  The new house is big and red and has one tire.  What!  A house with one tire?! Beginning and emergent readers will race through this early chapter book as they try to guess how a house can have one tire, and at the end of the book, they’ll be rewarded with a happy conclusion.  

 

Word Count:  1000 words

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Chapter One: Big Red News

 

Carlos and Carmen ran into the kitchen.  The twins could smell the tortillas warming in the oven.  They could smell the spicy, shredded beef that they both loved.  Most of all, they could smell excitement.

 

“Your mom and I have some big news,” said Papá as they sat down to eat.

 

“Are we getting a new baby?” asked Carlos.

 

“No, but we are getting something nuevo,” answered Papá.

 

“Are we getting a new puppy?” asked Carmen.

 

“Definitely, no,” said Mamá.

 

Mamá and Papá gave the twins some clues.  Mamá said it was big and red.  Papá said it had a tire.

 

Carlos scratched his head and really thought.  Then he asked, “Is it a big, red car?”

 

“No,” said Mamá.  “It is not a big, red car.  It is bigger than that.”

 

Carmen scrunched up her face and thought really, really hard.  “Is it a big, red monster truck?” she asked.

 

Papá laughed.  “No,” he said.  “It is not a big, red monster truck.  It is bigger than that.”

 

Carmen looked at Carlos.

 

Carlos looked at Carmen.

 

“We give up,” they said.

 

So, Mamá and Papá said together, “We are getting a new house!” 

 

“It is big and red,” said Mamá.

 

 “And, it only has one tire,” added Papá with big smile and a wink.

 

 

 

Chapter Two:  Brushing Up

 

Chapter Three:  Saying Goodbye

 

Chapter Four:  A House with a Tire