(2) K-3 Illustrated by Laura González. In this picture book, Martínez seamlessly blends legend and science to expand readers' understanding of axolotls. She starts with the creature's life cycle, placing it in its natural habitat, and then recounts the myth of the creation of the axolotl--morphed from and named after "the Aztec god of monstrous things." The axolotl, Martínez asserts, is "Not a Monster" but rather an important part of a fragile ecosystem. Elders agree: "When...the creatures are gone, it will be the end of paradise." Subtle details in González's hazy mixed-media illustrations complement the blend of cultural and scientific information (e.g., Aztec-inspired patterns populate the water and plants when the legend is introduced and linger after). The text naturally weaves in Spanish words, and Spanish names for colors are printed in those colors, allowing readers to learn their meanings with help from the illustrations (all Spanish words used are eventually defined in a glossary). "A couple of amigos row their chalupa morada along the water" to search for the elusive Not a Monster. After the friends help to clear trash from the canal, they follow a trail of heart-shaped lily pads to a cluster of axolotl eggs. The young conservationists--and readers--are rewarded with a final illustration of the hatched axolotls, as well as photos of Martínez's pet axolotls in her author's note.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) K-3 Translated by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite. Illustrated by Magdalena Mora. This book's bilingual text tells the story of a young child and his parents as they leave the United States for Mexico during the repatriation process in the 1930s--an overlooked part of U.S. history. The child's family--mother and son were born in the United States; Papá was born in Mexico--harvests pecans in Texas until new immigration policies and the threat of deportation force them to move to Mexico to keep their family together. Martínez's straightforward prose centers the boy's feelings of sadness, uncertainty, and hope as he leaves his home behind for a place he and Mamá only know about from Papá's stories. The cool colors of Mora's dreamlike gouache, ink, and digital illustrations offer reassurance as the family drives toward their future. An appended author's note details a difficult history of forced migration shared by many, while the story emphasizes the importance of family and ultimately feels optimistic. Butterflies--a contemporary symbol of the immigrants' rights movement--are included on most pages. This motif and the author's note contextualize the historically set narrative within the continued struggle for immigrants' rights.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(1) PS Illustrated by Laura González. "Jumping beans" are not in fact beans but moth larvae that have burrowed into the seedpods of the yerba de la flecha shrubs found alongside arroyos in the northern desert mountains of Mexico. In this accessible life-cycle/counting book that organically interweaves Spanish and English, Martínez traces the metamorphosis of "una oruga--a wiggly caterpillar" as it embarks on a pupation journey, that, with the aid of many desert helpers, ends with transformation and a spreading of wings as "a majestic polilla...soars into the sky." Martínez takes readers inside the seedpod, spotlighting its daily interactions--from the sun that warms it; to cacti ("dos saguaros") that provide shade; to the predators ("cuatro coyotes," "cinco cuervos") its clicking and clacking scares away; to children ("siete amigos") who come upon it while exploring the desert and use it to play a game. González’s digital illustrations harmonize subdued desert hues, mixing greens, russets, and blues. Capacious double-page spreads capture intricate goings-on inside the seedpod while simultaneously conveying wide-open desert expanses. Martínez (from El Paso) attends to the complexity of this desert landscape--a region politically and environmentally fraught--by tenderly centering its beautifully complex life in an engagingly child-friendly way. An appended author's note provides additional information about jumping bean moths; a glossary and bilingual "Count to Ten" list are also included.

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

(3) 4-6 Chela Gonzalez is highly anticipating sixth grade. She's especially excited about being part of the A-class, the only all-English class in her El Paso school. But when her father has a stroke, Chela's year grows complicated and painful. Short, well-crafted chapters offer perceptive glimpses into life on the border, the dynamics of middle-grade girls, and a family in turmoil.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl