Trejo, Jesus. Papá’s Magical Water-jug Clock. Illustrated by Eliza Kinkz. Minerva, 2023.  978-1-662-65104-5. 44 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

It’s Saturday morning, and Jesús can’t wait to spend the day helping his father with their family landscaping and gardening business. Jesús loves mowing and trimming trees, but he’s most excited to spend the whole day with his Papá. As he fills Papá’s big, orange water jug, Papá explains that the jug is also a magical clock. It tells them how much work is left to do, and when the jug is empty, it’s time to go home. Papá puts Jesús in charge of the jug, and Jesús takes the responsibility very seriously. However, he also drinks liberal amounts of the water, splashes some on his face, and shares cup after cup with thirsty-looking cats, dogs, and peacocks. By the time Jesús and Papá reach the third job site, the jug is empty. Father and son take the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart conversation about the balance of work and play and the importance of completing an honest day’s work. Reader’s will be charmed by Jesús’s nonstop energy and heart, and they’ll relate to the big feelings he exhibits throughout the story. Vibrant mixed-media illustrations reflect the lighthearted tone of the words and perfectly balance the text. 

THOUGHTS: This title will be a charming addition to English and Spanish picture book collections. It realistically depicts the loving relationship between father and son while maintaining a lighthearted and mischievous vibe and celebrating a hard-working male role model. 

Picture Book