Page 1
Wake up Allie,” Mami said.
“Today is the big block party!”
Every year my family and
neighbors have a great big
party on our street. I've
been waiting a long time.
But the day is
finally here!
Page 2
Tio Danny and Abuelo came early to help
Papi bring the tables and chairs outside.
Abuela and Tia Nancy helped Mami make
food for the party.
Page 3
Mami put on the morning news.
“Let's hear the weather report,”
she said. The weatherman
pointed to a picture of
raindrops and a big dark cloud.
“Enjoy the sunshine while
you can,” he said.
“It looks like a
rainstorm is
coming our
way.”
Page 4
“A rainstorm?” I screamed. “What about the block party?”
“It's not raining yet,”
Abuela said, looking out the window. “Let's enjoy the sunshine and the party while we can.”
Page 5
We quickly packed the food
and set up the table in front
of our apartment building.
“Good morning,” said our
neighbor Mrs. Ling. Her table
was already filled with food.
“Be sure to try some of my
homemade egg rolls before
the rainstorm comes.”
Page 6
The sun was still shining when my friends ran up to me.
“Come and play with us Allie!” they said.
Page 7
We jumped rope and we played hopscotch,
freeze tag, and hide and seek.
Soon we were hot
and sweaty.
Page 8
We changed into our bathing
suits and Eddie took the cap
off the fire hydrant.
Page 9
He made a big fountain with the
water. My friends and I ran from
one side to the other. It was just like a
rainstorm, but the sun was still shining.
Page 10
When I finished playing in the
water, Mami served me lunch.
Since all the neighbors share
their food, I had many different
things to eat on my plate.
Page 11
“Do you like it?” Mrs. Ling asked
me when she saw me eating one
of her egg rolls. “It's delicious,"
I answered.
Page 12
After lunch, I heard the piragua man ring his
bell. Papi gave me money and I ran to the
little cart. “What flavor?” he asked.
“Cherry please,” I said, giving him a dollar.
Page 13
The piragua man scraped the big
block of ice and filled a plastic cup
with ice bits. It looked like snow. He
poured cherry juice on top until the
ice cone was bright red.
Page 14
I ate my piragua while I sat on Abuelo's lap. He was playing
dominos with his friends. Sometimes Abuelo lets me help him.
I know how to play because he taught me.
Page 15
“You see?” Abuelo said. “The rainstorm is waiting for you.
It wants you to have a fun day.”
I sipped the cherry ice with a big smile.
Page 16
In the middle of the street
there was a big empty stage.
One by one, musicians came
up with their instruments.
There were guitars, trumpets,
bongos, drums, and a
big piano.
Page 17
One of our neighbors introduced the band. Everyone clapped
as the band started to play their music. Abuelo danced with
Abuela, Tio Danny danced with Tia Nancy, Papi danced with
Mami and I danced with all my cousins and friends.
Page 18
We danced for a long time, and
soon we were all hot and sweaty.
I wished we could play in the fire
hydrant again. Just as I was
thinking that, the dark clouds
began to cover the sun.
I felt little drops of cool
rain on my face. It felt
wonderful!
Page 19
Abuelo was right. The
rainstorm waited for me to
have a fun day in the sun,
and it came when I wanted to
play in the water once again.
The music kept on playing
and we all kept dancing
in the rain.
