(2) K-3 Two siblings should be going to sleep, but one of them asks the other, "Can you tell me a story? A SCARY one." That opens the door to three folktales featuring Liniers's distinctive comic-panel treatment. In "The Mermaid and the Pink Dolphin," a captain and his pet monkey navigating the Amazon River are drawn to the singing of the Iara (river mermaid). Following the Iara's tunes takes the captain on a mysterious expedition. "The Owl of Doom" tells of a witch-owl with a woman's face and its call of death. The people live in fear until a child summons the power of music. In "The Evil Light," gauchos riding their horses through the pampas are approaching the sunset hour -- a time the evil light appears and they will have to confront their fears. The siblings' interjections throughout add humor, and the India ink and watercolor illustrations bring the right touch of the macabre to these tales. A useful and informative introduction by David Bowles provides historical and political context, and notes about the mythological creatures and a bibliography are appended. This volume creatively showcases the importance and power of telling and passing stories through generations via oral, textual, and visual narratives. Concurrently published in Spanish as Cuentos de noche: Relatos de Latinoameric.

Reviewer: Sujei Lugo | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(1) 4-6 Merci navigates the troubles of home and seventh grade--and the gap between the two--with her irresistible combination of spirit and heart in this follow-up to the Newbery-winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears (rev. 9/18). Though she seems more self-assured these days, Merci resents the many changes taking place around her: her brother Roli away at college, Lolo's deteriorating condition, ­Hannah's growing friendship with Merci's archenemy, and the growing confusion surrounding new friend Wilson. At the annual "Heart Ball" school dance, Merci only wants to participate from the place she has the most confidence and control--behind the camera--but even that goes awry. Vibrant and insightful, the novel explores the complexities of friendship and family as well as first romance. All the while, Merci stays busy getting herself into trouble and finding her way out of it again. Her relationships at school strengthen, to mirror the bonds she has with her family at home, and when school and home lives merge, Merci discovers the best way to manage change is with a bit of bravery, a welcoming attitude, and people you trust. And by the end of this funny, heartwarming book, Merci does dance--with family and friends, on an intimidating stage at her exclusive private school in the first performance of the new Suárez School of Latin Dance.

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

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Sergio García Sánchez. In engaging comic-format style, ­Spiegelman and Sánchez (Lost in NYC, rev. 7/15) retell the Latin American folktale "Blancaflor," about the youngest daughter of a monstrous ogre. The ogre has cast a spell on a witless handsome prince, which grants the prince good luck every time he plays a game. On the day this luck is set to expire, the ogre invites him to play "the ogre's three," consisting of seemingly unwinnable quests. ­Blancaflor uses her own magical powers to assist the prince. Spiegelman's retelling is a fresh take on the classic story, with contemporary and effortless language that will resonate with modern audiences. Sánchez's energetic illustrations are a visual delight (particularly on the interspersed double-page spreads). Blancaflor is depicted with long brown braids, brown skin, and a comely countenance. Her strength shines through in a calm manner: Blancaflor creates her own fate and does not accept defeat, even when fulfilling the quests nearly costs her her life. The exaggeratedly elongated limbs of the figures reflect the enchanted world in which the characters reside, and the mercurial moods of the ogre are especially well depicted. F. Isabel Campoy writes an informative introduction, and Spiegelman appends an essay on the importance of fairy tales, along with a bibliography. Simultaneously published in Spanish.

Reviewer: Yesica Hurd | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) YA Seventeen-year-old Dani is the new Primera (one wife of two who manages the husband's household and aids in his career) to a wealthy aspiring politician. But the identification papers that place Dani's origin on the advantageous side of the border wall are a forgery. Mejia's inventive dystopian world is full of clear references to our own. Frequent twists, questions of whom to trust, and a clandestine queer romance make for a page-turner.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) 4-6 Spanish-language edition translated by María E. Santana. Three amusing and enlightening folktales ("Martina Martínez and Pérez the Mouse" was written by Alma Flor Ada) are presented in a lively comic-book format. Expressive characters and colorful tones add to the stories' playfulness. F. Isabel Campoy's introduction places the tales in the context of folktale traditions of the Americas; primary sources and contextual facts are appended. Also available in Spanish. Bib.

Reviewer: Alicia K. Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) K-3 Translated by Mara Lethem. Illustrated by Chiara Carrer. The lives of seven disadvantaged children who share the same name and live throughout the Americas are highlighted in short, almost poetic snippets translated from the Spanish. Each Pablo has his own unique struggles and sources of hope. The evocative colored- and graphite-pencil illustrations underscore a somber mood and evoke readers' empathy for the boys.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(2) K-3 Translated by Elisa Amado. Illustrated by Rafael Yockteng. A girl walks through an unidentified, impoverished Latin American city with a lion. The illustrations imply a violent political climate: a newspaper headline reads "Familias de Desaparecidos [Families of the Disappeared]"; they also draw a clear parallel between the girl's absent father (glimpsed in a photograph) and the lion, suggesting that she remembers her father for his lion-like courage and that courage gives her hope to continue.

Reviewer: Sonia Alejandra Rodriguez | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(4) YA Her father is abroad finding himself, leaving seventeen-year-old Delilah to manage the family café on her own. She ditches school, partly because the business is going under and partly to watch Rosa, a dancer at a nearby tapas restaurant. Delilah's voice is bright and compelling, but the various teen hijinks are a bit too over the top to be believable.

Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ana Ramírez. This story, inspired by the Disney/Pixar film Coco, is narrated by music itself in the form of a fairy-like figure. The narrator encourages little boy Miguel, whose practical-minded abuelita discourages music-making, to teach himself to play a discarded guitar. Steeped in Latino culture, this picture book affirms the importance of family, ethnic traditions, and immersive musical experiences. Lively, colorful, culturally rich illustrations give young readers plenty to discover.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(3) YA After being dumped due to his singular focus, self-proclaimed "cat video tycoon" Rick Gutiérrez takes up salsa dancing. To impress Ana, his fellow dancer/rebound crush, he takes her to Havana to visit his estranged family and study salsa. Rick's snarky voice, self-aware awkwardness, and (surprisingly relevant) internet savvy humorously balance the story's complex and poignant explorations of identity, romantic relationships, family, class, and politics.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant. In an unspecified city, impoverished siblings Pablo and Sofia are pepenadores (scavengers) who look through garbage to find recyclables and items of value. When Pablo finds a real "treasure," a gold chain, he cleverly hides it from predatory "Filthy-Face." Inherently grim but eye-opening and moving, this story about third-world poverty is complemented by its smudgy, sketchlike drawings, illuminated by a few rays of color.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Trailblazing Athletes series. This biography series features minority and female athletes (four men, two women) who helped shatter glass ceilings in their respective sports (tennis, golf, baseball, and boxing). The simplistic texts, which align to Common Core Standards, often raise more questions than answers but may inspire further reading. Archival photographs add interest, and lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Trailblazing Athletes titles: Arthur Ashe, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Billie Jean King, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Roberto Clemente.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) YA This well-written biography introduces Ernesto "Che" Guevara Lynch Jr., a privileged, asthmatic Argentinean who became a guerilla fighter, CIA nemesis, and iconic hero for the oppressed and poor. Sidebars, photographs, and primary sources add depth to the engaging narrative, providing insight into a man at the center of Cold War history and controversy. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. At the narrator’s father’s music store, "people come...to buy dreams and memories." Customers stop by and tell their stories (a series of linked free-verse poems), each connecting to a Latin musical style or dance. Illustrations accompanying the girl's narration are in black and white while the visitors' tales appear in vibrant color. A useful author's note is appended.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(4) 4-6 On the Radar: Dance series. This series provides engaging introductions to dance forms. The texts cover background and historical influences, dance-specific lingo and gear, influence on popular culture, and step-by-step dance-move instructions. Profiles of several real-life dancers, presented in various formats (interview, week-in-the-life blog, etc.), offer aspiring dancers inspiration and insight. The busy format, with lots of bold colors and photographs, can be hard to follow. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these On the Radar: Dance titles Capoeira, Latin Dance, and Street Dance.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Micha Archer. Papi teaches Lola the fandango, a traditional Spanish dance. The story culminates in a surprise party for Mami, who dances with her daughter. Witte's text reproduces the sounds and rhythm of the dance, also reflected in the patterns and energy of Archer's rich collage illustrations. A CD includes an audio version. Paperback edition concurrently published in Spanish. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Translated by David Unger. Illustrated by Raúl Colón. Martínez retells seven Latin American folktales in this bilingual collection. Pedro Urdemales and Martina the Cockroach make appearances along with some lesser-known characters. Full-page illustrations rendered with watercolor and colored-pencil on scratched paper create an eye-catching frontispiece for each story. A good choice for read-aloud time, the book includes English and Spanish text on facing pages.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(4) 4-6 Mysterious Encounters series. These books present descriptions, histories, personal anecdotes, and in some cases cross-cultural variations on the title topics in three or four digestible chapters. Stock photos and illustrations--some adequate, some cheesy, some unhelpful--break up the texts. Although a few sidebars offer alternative explanations for strange occurrences, the texts tend to present the supernatural as fact. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Mysterious Encounters titles: Time Travel, Burial Grounds, La Llorona, Stonehenge, and The Dover Demon.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Paula Barragán. Twelve Latino festivals, one for each month of the year, are described in brief poems accompanied by short explanatory paragraphs. Some of the celebrations, such as Cinco de Mayo and Día de los Muertos, will be familiar; others that are very specific to certain countries or ethnic groups may not be. Vibrantly flowing digitally enhanced cut-paper illustrations accompany the text.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Translated by Rosalma Zubizarreta. Illustrated by Viví Escrivá. This collection presents nineteen traditional Spanish-language Christmas carols along with English translations. Section introductions in both languages describe related holiday traditions. The song translations make occasional minor changes for the sake of rhythm and rhyme, but only when the general meaning can be preserved. Colorful illustrations of squat, doll-like figures display Latin American holiday practices. Includes music for six songs.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax