Three wishes

by Eva María Mejuto Rial, Gabriel Pacheco (Illustrator)

Soñar en noches de luna, trae fortuna. Podéis pedir tres deseos, decía el misterioso papel que se coló por la chimenea, justo cuando dos viejecitos estaban asando un pedazo de pan. Dentaduras de oro, trajes elegantes, un palacio de diamantes… ¡Qué difícil escoger…! Este cuento, de la tradición oral portuguesa, nos habla del poder de los sueños, de la suerte que aparece y desaparece caprichosa, y de que mientras tengamos afecto y sueños por cumplir, seremos felices.

Description in “Dreaming on moonlit nights, brings good luck. You can ask for three wishes”, proclaimed the mysterious piece of paper that fell down the chimney, while the elderly couple were toasting their crust of bread. Gold teeth, elegant clothes, a palace of diamonds… What a difficult choice…! So the old woman thought that with a sausage sandwich, she would be able to think better.

Just then… poof!, the sausage appeared. She had used up her first wish! How many dreams end in three wishes? This tale, adapted from the Portuguese oral tradition, speaks to us about the power of dreams, of luck that appears and disappears whimsically before our very eyes and of how affection and the desire to continue dreaming bring us happiness. This story appears in alternative versions in distinct European countries; in England, rather than sausage, it’s chocolate pudding.

A version found in Porto Rico has a grandmother whose husband, furious because she wasted a wish, wishes donkey ears on her. Gabriel Pacheco creates illustrations of great evocative power, playing from beginning to end with images evocative of a puppet theatre, and introducing elements that provide the text with a great symbolic charge, as found in the moon game, with its sphere weaving and unweaving the luck of the main characters, the keys, the locks… The choice of color is fundamental in relation to the emotions and the moment, reality or desire represented.

36 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2007

Reviews

[Veerlibros Jeaque Vargas R.]

Esta historia es una adaptación de un cuento tradicional portugués, que por medio de Una situación un tanto divertida busca enseñar a los lectores el poder de los sueños, que la verdadera felicidad está en el amor, no en tener fortuna, y lo cambiante que es la suerte.
La combinación perfecta entre el texto y las sugerentes ilustraciones de Gabriel Pacheco con la variada tipografía hacen de este libro toda una joya.

[Yvensong]

This was a bit challenging for me, as there were many Spanish words that I had never seen or heard before. Once I was able to read it all the way through in a sitting, I found the book charming.

[Laura Hawking]

A poor, old couple is dreaming about all the things they would like to have. While they’re daydreaming about feasts, castles and gold dentures, a mysterious message is brought by the wind. They can have three wishes…
Things get a bit out of control, bringing forth the most unthinkable consequences. This story is very funny and unpredictable. The illustrations are equally amusing.

[Ariberna]

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