(4) K-3 Illustrated by Amelia Lau Carling. A mouse family living in an old theater decides to put on its own show. The youngest mouse finds a clever way to use both audience participation and bilingualism (of sorts) to frighten off a predatory cat mid-performance. Inspired by a Mexican American folktale, the story has a deliciously slow build. The illustrations are a bit awkwardly rendered.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amelia Lau Carling. Amelia's father tells of the abuelos, the "old men of the mountains" who make sure children behave. Frightened after seeing some figures descend the mountain for real, Amelia realizes it's the men of the village in masks, who are carrying on a New Mexican cultural tradition. Mora's writing and Carling's watercolor, pastel, and colored-pencil illustrations are warm.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham