(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mirelle Ortega. Brown begins this biography of the Mexican American twins--one a member of President Obama's cabinet and presidential candidate, the other a U.S. congressman--with their grandmother's emigration from Mexico to Texas as an orphan in 1922. The twins were raised by their grandmother, who had only a third-grade education, and their single mother, "the first Chicana to run for San Antonio City Council, in 1971." The women's positive influence is clear as the well-shaped narrative emphasizes the brothers' commitment to education, hard work, and community betterment. The welcoming digital illustrations reflect the laudatory text's enthusiasm. An author's note, brief glossary of Spanish words and terms, and bibliography are appended. Concurrently published in Spanish as Pequeña habitación, grandes sueños: El viaje de Julián y Joaquín Castro.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(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

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Angela Dominguez. Lola has waited forever for a cat, and on the big day, she picks Jelly. But when Lola's brother Ben turns out to be allergic, Lola has to find a new home for her special friend. Lola's spunk and heart shine in this fourth book, which thoughtfully handles the delicate issue of pet loss. Black-and-white illustrations, diary entries, and letters are sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(2) K-3 Illustrated by John Parra. Spanish-language edition translated by F. Isabel Campoy. In this lovely biographical portrait of the legendary Mexican painter, feminist icon, and artistic genius, Brown introduces and connects each of Kahlo's many pets (who comforted her and served as subjects for her paintings) with the artist. Brown uses the comparison to illuminate Kahlo's illness-and-accident-compromised life. Parra's illustrations support the upbeat tone of Brown's accessible text with exquisitely neat compositions in a muted palette. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Angela Dominguez. Jewish Latina American Lola (Lola Levine Is Not Mean!), seven, is excited for her class play until she freezes during tryouts and gets a (nonspeaking) role: Squirrel #2. During the performance, Lola must improvise with some help from her bubbe. Loud, spunky Lola will greatly appeal to readers who share her flair for the dramatic. Black-and-white illustrations, diary entries, and letters are sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(2) K-3 Translated by Adriana Dominguez. Illustrated by Sara Palacios. In her second book, Marisol McDonald explores words beginning with M. One M word, however, scares Marisol: "Monster! / ¡Monstruo!" A "BUMP" in the night fills Marisol's mind with worrisome questions. She comes up with a characteristically imaginative answer, then learns the real, not-so-scary cause of the sound. Mixed-media art sparkles with color and personality, matching Marisol's exuberance. The Spanish translation preserves the text's tone nicely. Glos.

Reviewer: J. Alex Mazariegos | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Angela Dominguez. In this third book, Lola is skeptical of pink-clad new girl Bella; they obviously have nothing in common. But some parental-arranged play dates have Lola trying ballet, Bella joining Lola on the soccer field, and the girls bonding over their Latina heritage. Lola's fans will applaud her trying something new and making a friend in the process. Black-and-white illustrations, diary entries, and letters are sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Translated by Adriana Domínguez. Illustrated by David Diaz. When Maya Morales is little, her grandmother makes her a blanket, a "special manta" that morphs into different (progressively smaller) things as Maya grows up. Based on the Yiddish folk song "I Had a Little Coat" (and inspired by her Jewish and Latina heritage), Brown creates a contemporary story, in English and Spanish, with a timeless-folktale feel. Diaz's mixed-media illustrations are warm and joyful. Glos.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(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

(2) K-3 Translated by Adriana Domínguez. Illustrated by Rafael López. A bilingual picture book charts the life of Tito Puente with all the exuberance of the drummer and bandleader's irresistible music. Vibrant imagery hums right off the page, full of high-contrast color and energetic composition, and decorated with swirling, starry embellishments. The treatment is not especially deep and is decidedly positive: Tito's life reads like a sequence of successes.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2013

(3) K-3 Translated by Adriana Domínguez. Illustrated by Sara Palacios. Marisol McDonald, an individualistic Peruvian-Scottish-American girl, throws a "soccer-player-pirate-princess-unicorn" birthday party, but her abuelita cannot get a visa to attend. In a sweet, satisfying twist, technology comes to the rescue. Highlighting Marisol's mixed background, the English text includes some Spanish words and the Spanish includes some English. The cut-paper, ink, and marker illustrations brim with vitality and detail. Glos.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(2) PS Illustrated by John Parra. For Ana, the arrival of a burro-riding librarian in her remote village is a joyful event. Impatiently awaiting the bibliotecario's next visit, Ana reads avidly, writes, and creates her own book. Parra's acrylics portray a sunny village with cheerful children engaged in imaginative play. Spanish words (defined in context and in a glossary) add a useful dimension, as does an author's note.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2011

(3) K-3 Translated by Adriana Domínguez. Illustrated by Sara Palacios. Spirited text in English and Spanish describes the ways the mixed-race narrator "doesn't match," from clothing choice to physical appearance ("My cousin Tato...says, 'Marisol, your skin is brown like mine, but your hair is the color of carrots. You don't match!'"). Palacios's illustrations capture Marisol's exuberant style and wacky fashion sense, as does Domínguez's thoughtful Spanish translation of Brown's text.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Brown opens with Neftali's boyhood love of reading, writing, and nature, celebrating the subjects that informed his poetry and his "dreams of peace." Paschkis's signature effusions of color and stylized forms are embellished with words--in English, Spanish, and other languages--poetically related in both sound and sense. It all adds up to an intriguing dramatization of Neruda's themes and concerns. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2011

(3) K-3 Translated by Carolina Valencia. Illustrated by Joe Cepeda. Brown makes a significant contribution to the increasing number of books about César Chávez by focusing equally on his partner, Dolores Huerta. Their life stories are told in parallel until they meet and "side by side...began their journey." Huerta's accomplishments are admirable, and she gets her due in this heartfelt bilingual volume enhanced by Cepeda's emotion-filled mixed-media illustrations.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Magaly Morales. A bubble blown from Magic Chicle chewing gum whisks Chavela away to the jungles of Yucatan. There she sees her grandmother's stories in action as chicleros harvest sap for gum from sapodilla trees. Brown's imaginative tale is paired with Morales's whimsical illustrations full of eye-catching swirls and candy colors. Brown wisely leaves her "stewards-of-nature" message for the author's note. Websites.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(3) K-3 Translated by Fernando Gayesky. Illustrated by Rudy Gutiérrez. In poetic bilingual prose, the text encapsulates the Brazilian soccer star's life in a way that goes straight to the essence of Pelé's enormous appeal. The story's climax is the scoring of his thousandth goal. Energetic color- and pattern-filled illustrations flow like the arc of a soccer ball cutting through the air. An author's note tells more about Pelé's later life.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Raúl Colón. This bilingual picture book biography does respectful justice to its subject, exploring Márquez's early life and influences in Colombia. Brown's writing lilts with poetic cadences that reflect Márquez's spirit and soul. Colón's beautifully flowing rainbow-hued illustrations capture the spirit of magical realism that is so integral to Márquez's work. An author's note gives more biographical information.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rafael Lopez. Brown has the Queen of Salsa tell her own story in a first-person narrative. The vivid poetic language makes the sights, sounds, and smells of Havana, New York, and Miami come alive (but is somewhat vague about details). López's bold, almost-cubist illustrations suit the story, interpreting the bilingual text's magical realism. A one-page afterword fills in some biographical information.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham