Pancho’s Piñata, Stefan Czernecki and Timothy Rhodes (1992), 44 pp --- [ages 4-8].
A fictional, original tale with illustrations in the Mexican folk art tradition. On Christmas Eve in a small Mexican village, a little boy, Pancho, rescues a beautiful star ensnared atop a cactus. His reward is the gift of happiness. Many years later, he decides to pass on this wondrous gift to the children of his village. It’s a story in the Christmas tradition that emphasizes the joys and rewards of giving. A fun tale with a Mexican setting,, but the story-line is more in the North American tradition.