The Paintbrush Kid

Uncle Pancho isn't really anybody's uncle, but he's everybody's friend. He is also a good storyteller. All the neighborhood children love to hear him talk about growing up in a beautiful place called Mexico. Now Uncle Pancho is about to lose his house. The state wants to tear it down to make room for a new freeway. As Gregory and his friends search for a way to help him, Uncle Pancho's stories give Gregory a good idea. If he uses his artistic talent to paint the old man's house, maybe it will be too beautiful to destroy. As Gregory and the neighborhood kids create a beautiful mural, news cameras gather in front of the house. Maybe his idea will work, after all. As Gregory's idea leads to an unexpected conclusion, realistic characters and situations move the story along at a pleasant pace. Johnny Heller's narration captures the poignancy of this moving story for young readers.