(2) PS Illustrated by Cocoretto. Benita is wrapped up in her reading and not bothered by the night creatures who try to frighten her at bedtime. Annoyed at the growing crowd of would-be scarers, she yells, "DON'T YOU SEE I'M READING A BOOK?" Intrigued, the monsters ask Benita to read to them. Now all engrossed, they yell "SHHHH!" to latecomer Yanapuma, who instead of scaring everyone, joins the storytime. Boldly colored pencil and digital illustrations pop against mostly black backdrops. Young book lovers will relate to Benita's devotion to reading and be amused by the friendly night creatures, who are all based on Peruvian legends. Concurrently published in Spanish as Benita y las criaturas nocturnas.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) YA In this powerful story set in the fictitious Florida city of Mermaid Cove, Sylvester blends the compelling struggle of a young woman trying to find her voice with the effects of living with a serious medical condition. When Verónica swims in her apartment-complex pool, everything else disappears; the water blurs the pain and the scars of her many hip surgeries and helps her forget that doctors, nurses, and others seemingly have more control of her body than she does herself. The water is as much her home as it is for the mermaid performers she admires in Mermaid Cove's tourist attraction. But her Peruvian immigrant parents are ­serious only about work, academics, and being model citizens, and they insist that mermaid tales are a childish obsession she needs to forget. When a lucky opportunity presents itself, Verónica will have to decide what--and who--defines her. Peruvian folklore and facts about Florida are seamlessly integrated into the skillful first-person narration, and each chapter begins with a term's dictionary ­definition followed by Verónica’s definition. An appended author's note tells more about the real town on which Mermaid Cove was based, the condition of hip ­dysplasia, and the Peruvian legend of Huacachina.

Reviewer: Alicia K. Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. Sadie and her sensational Aunt Josephine are back for a third adventure (Special Delivery, rev. 3/15; The Only Fish in the Sea, rev. 7/17), which starts with a knock at the door: "Close the curtains, Sadie! And turn out the lights! It could be a vacuum salesman. Or more likely, a suitor." After a lifetime of traveling the world, Aunt J declares she simply wants rest, but the thought of these previous escapades sends her reminiscing about her time as a nine-year-old in Peru cataloging frogs for science. With Cordell's well-suited scratchy pen-and-ink lines and soft watercolor washes, the story Aunt Josephine relates to Sadie (when a giant frog swallows one of Josephine's admirers, she hurries after it to make sure the amphibian specimen is catalogued properly) plays out hilariously in giant thought bubbles while a morning breakfast-in-bed routine with Sadie carries on in the background. Text and art duel with each other to make the antics more and more outlandish, and every page-turn yields an unexpected and wonderfully ridiculous plot development. Josephine finds herself headed toward the Panama Canal, where she boards a bathtub and tries to heed her own grandmother's final words ("If nothing else, Josephine, see Paris") but winds up stranded on the Canary Islands after an encounter with some pirates. The story goes on to include a whale ride and more, but Aunt Josephine notes she has yet to see Paris or find that giant frog. All the while, someone keeps knocking at the door, where the perfect ending awaits on the other side.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(1) K-3 Translated by Adriana Domínguez. Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. This picture-book biography of Peruvian archaeologist and educator Julio C. Tello (1880–1947) forefronts Indigenous Peruvian science, knowledge systems, and art. Brown centers Tello's indigeneity from the opening spread. Born in 1880 "in the shadow of the Andes mountains," Tello spoke Quechua, the language spoken across generations of Indigenous Peruvian people. Nicknamed Sharuko for his brave disposition ("not even the skulls he and his brothers uncovered in ancient tombs" scared him), twelve-year-old Tello left the highlands for Lima to commence his studies, initiating a prolific and multi-continent educational journey. He returned to Peru in 1913, where at the Museum of Natural History in Lima he conducted groundbreaking excavation and fieldwork investigating the daily life of ancient Peruvians. Brown's text, usually appearing in Spanish on the left-hand pages and in English on the right (expertly translated by Domínguez), is informative and engaging. Chavarri's gouache and watercolor illustrations show panoramic Andean vistas, with saturated yellows balancing muted green hues; vignettes focus on resplendent brown faces; details in the art invite visual inquiry into renderings of colorful Paracas textiles and sculpted cabezas clavas from the archaeological site Chavín de Huántar. Author and ­illustrator notes affirm Brown's and Chavarri's (both of Peruvian descent) commitment to perpetuating Peru's Indigenous culture. A bibliography is appended.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(2) K-3 Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela feels self-conscious about her long name until her father tells her about the family members after whom she is named. The pictures--grayscale print-transfer illustrations with soft textures--steal the show in their depiction of the sweet closeness between Alma and her father as well as her connection to her ancestors. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. This rhymed retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale incorporates a plethora of Spanish words and phrases; the illustrations--created with acrylics, colored pencils, and graphite on handmade paper--set the story in Peru, with clothing and other textiles inspired by those of several different Indigenous Peruvian communities. Both text and art emit much energy and humor. Glos.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Ancient Mysteries series. Each book in this series looks at a different ancient city or monument and explores unanswered questions about its construction and uses. Both historical and modern views are provided, with differences explained by recent research and technology. Plentiful photographs and illustrations bring the sites to life. "Dig Deep!" and "Myth Alert!" sidebars provide additional interesting context and detail. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Ancient Mysteries titles: Mysteries of the Egyptian Pyramids, Mysteries of the Great Wall of China, Mysteries of Easter Island, Mysteries of Pompeii, Mysteries of Machu Picchu, and Mysteries of Stonehenge.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Exasperated with Hummingbird's incessant chatter and constant mimicry, Hector (a bear) loses him in the Peruvian jungle, only to realize (predictably) that he misses his friend. The emotional beats make little sense, but the scratchy-lined, limited-palette illustrations make the jungle and its denizens brightly inviting. A final page issues a seek-and-find challenge for Peruvian animals pictured throughout the story.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. In clear, concise text with plenty of images, this engaging narrative of the mystery surrounding the Nazca Lines in Peru touches on theories about their meaning and purpose. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Angela Dominguez. Lola Levine is a strong, independent, soccer-loving second grader. One day during recess she plays soccer a little too aggressively and hurts a classmate. She makes amends by writing entertaining, and heartfelt, notes. Lola, whose dad is Jewish American and mom is Catholic and from Peru, defies stereotypes and marches to her own drum. Spanish phrases and expressive black-and-white illustrations are sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 On a Peruvian island in the Amazon, ten-year-old Doyli and her uncle care for orphaned monkeys until the animals are able to live on their own. Some of the accompanying photos are too dark, and information on habitat loss, poaching, and the effects of greed is awkwardly inserted. Nevertheless, this account of the difference one child's efforts can make is interesting and inspirational.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(4) 1-3 Greetings from Somewhere series. Illustrated by Marcos Calo. Twins Ella and Ethan head with their travel-writer mom and homeschooling dad to Mumbai, where they track down a spice shop saboteur (Spices); and to Machu Picchu, where they find a missing toy snake and hunt for an Inca sculpture (Bridge). The travel guide–like highlights add some flavor to the otherwise standard chapter-book mysteries. Black-and-white illustrations are included. Glos. Review covers these Greetings from Somewhere titles: The Mystery Across the Secret Bridge and The Mystery of the Suspicious Spices.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Geography Matters in Ancient Civilizations series. Life in these ancient civilizations is thoroughly explored, with special emphasis on how the physical geography influenced aspects of their cultures including geopolitics, farming, and religion. Superimposed over rather distracting topographical-map backgrounds, main texts and subtopics are treated in question-and-answer fashion, supplemented with many illustrations, photographs, maps, and sidebars. A quiz and research tips conclude each volume. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Geography Matters in Ancient Civilizations titles: Geography Matters in Ancient Egypt and Geography Matters in the Inca Empire.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Shana is afraid of another failed relationship and of what her father's impending blindness will mean for her family. To ward off their despair, Shana and her parents embark on a Peruvian trek that's spiritually and emotionally inspiring. Chen's Machu Picchu backdrop complements Shana's strenuous journey from a place of fear and heartbreak toward renewed trust.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(3) YA Digging Up the Past series. Archaeological sites and finds are explored in this series, which touches on scientific, cultural, legal, and political implications of the discoveries; research; and preservation. Sidebars expand the thorough main text, while ample photographs of excavations and artifacts will spur the curiosity of readers with interest in ancient civilizations or archaeology. Solid bases for further study. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Digging Up the Past titles: Chaco Canyon, �-tzi the Iceman, Machu Picchu, and King Tut's Tomb.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Ancient Wonders series. Each volume offers the basic who-what-when-why-and-how for its titular ancient structure and concludes with a quick overview of its current condition and tourism. Color photos, maps, and other illustrations supplement the text; short question-and-answer footers provide additional detail. The brightly designed series is basic, but the content is sufficient for the target audience. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review includes these Ancient Wonders titles: Egyptian Pyramids, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Statues of Easter Island, Stonehenge, and Taj Mahal.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Micay, an outcast in her Incan village because of a disfiguring facial scar, embarks on a pilgrimage to Sacred Sun City to ask to be healed; instead, she asks unselfishly for the drought to end and is chosen to become a shaman priestess. The narrator's formal voice is a little stilted and the pace is slow, but Micay is a sympathetic heroine.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) YA Though the Electroclan's destruction of the Starxource plant was a major victory over the Elgen, the Peruvian government has branded it a terroristic act. Hunted by both the army and the Elgen fleet, Michael and friends must evade capture as they plan their next move against Dr. Hatch. Evans develops character relationships better in this third installment, which continues to be exciting.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) YA Sixteen-year-old Aiden survived the perilous trip across the prairies in The Devil's Paintbox and is now in Gold Rush–era San Francisco. After being on a ship only once before, a stroke of luck finds him the owner of a trading ship. Adventure, excitement, and intricately detailed history make up this portrait of a boy fast becoming a young man.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Having narrowly escaped the evil Elgen organization in The Prisoner of Cell 25, Michael and his friends, the Electroclan, are on the run. But when they discover his mom is being held in a hyper-secure facility deep in the jungles of Peru, the Electroclan decides to rescue her, uncovering the malicious organization's plan for world domination in the process. Despite a shallow cast, the Electroclan's exciting adventures are entertaining.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay