(2) K-3 Miguel and his abuelito wake early to work; the grandfather sells cold coconuts from a small, wheeled cart, and the boy sells dream catchers he makes, a craft that reminds him of his absent (perhaps deceased?) parents. The boy is saving up to buy an airplane, his dream. As they make their way through town selling their wares, they talk about what people might dream of. Some dreams are big, such as living in a castle or changing the world; others are smaller, such as having enough food. Miguel's grandfather reiterates that "selling my cold coconuts next to you and seeing you smile is all I dream of. I like it here and now because we're together." There is a powerful interplay between the words and Verdad's acrylic paint and digital collage illustrations, dominated by blocky shapes and crayon-like textures. This is most poignantly displayed when the grandfather tells Miguel that some people dream of seeing someone they miss as the boy gazes at two parents walking with their young child. Verdad shows artistic restraint, allowing the reader to intuit meaning and emotional depth by interpreting what this interaction and others like it mean. A moving story of appreciating what you have while still dreaming of a different future.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) PS Stuffed bear Teddy has one job to do, according to Noa. Every morning, Noa wakes up bright-eyed and ready to play. Teddy, on the other hand, can barely keep his eyes open and naps from sunrise to sunset. "Sometimes, Noa thinks that Teddy is the worst teddy EVER!" Little does Noa realize that every night creatures come calling, from a ghost to the tickle monster, and it is brave Teddy who keeps them at bay. Verdad's engaging text uses only a few sentences per page. His illustrations--cut-paper, crayon, acrylic paint, and digital collage--have a playful feel that recalls Christian Robinson's child-centric style. The book's human characters are largely formed from basic shapes and scribbles, adorable in their simplicity. The nighttime intruders are similarly spare, but with small details that make them endearing rather than scary. After sending a giant purple boogeyman away with toys, Teddy chases the tooth fairy from the ­sleeping child's bedroom--with a fly swatter. Simultaneously published in Spanish as El peor Teddy del mundo.

Reviewer: Hill Saxton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023