Skeletown: Sí. ¡No!

by Rhode Montijo

Overview

Say “¡SI!” to a fresh, funny, Spanish-forward picture book series set in Skeletown—a cheerful, vibrant world filled with Dí​a de los Muertos-inspired characters!

Spend the day with Skully and Skelly as they learn what to say “yes” and “no” to! With the clever use of just two words—sí and no—throughout the whole book, a sequence of hilarious gags leads to mischief, chaos, and ultimately friendships soaring to new heights! At first, cautious Skelly reins in Skully's antics, but after they arrive at a friend's birthday party and the games start heating up, Skelly finally comes out of her sugar-skull shell and reveals that there's a hankering for adventure in her after all!

With dynamic, neon art that pops off the pages, a completely unique approach to storytelling, and a wildly appealing (but not scary!) cast of calavera characters from the fantastical world of Skeletown, here's a rambunctious romp that will inspire giggles with Spanish and English readers alike!


Di “¡SÍ!” a una serie de libros ilustrados, originales y divertidos, con solo dos palabras en español basados en el mundo de Skeletown, un mundo alegre y lleno de color con personajes inspirados en el Día de los Muertos.

¡Pasa el día con Skully y Skelly mientras aprenden a decir "sí" y "no"! Con el uso inteligente de solo dos palabras, sí y no, esta historia es accesible tanto para hispanos como anglos.  Vive junto con Skully y Skelly una secuencia de bromas divertidísimas. Al principio, la cautelosa Skelly controla las travesuras de Skully, pero después de que llegan a la fiesta de cumpleaños de una amiga, los juegos empiezan a levantar el espíritu aventurero. Desearás acompañarlos en cada momento de esta maravillosa historia.

Además, te encantarán los colores neón que sobresalen en cada una de las ilustraciones. Tendrás acceso a un mundo fantástico con personajes de calavera, (¡que no dan miedo!). Skeletown es un mundo fantástico que atrapará tu atención, te sacará risas y hará volar tu imaginación.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316464932
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Series:	Skeletown , #1
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	121,633
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rhode Montijo is the creator of the Gumazing Gum Girl! chapter book series, as well as the picture books Cloud Boy and The Halloween Kid. He also published Pablo’s Inferno, an indie comic series, and illustrated a number of other children’s books. Rhode received a BFA in illustration from California College of Arts and Crafts and now lives in the Los Angeles area. Skeletown: Sí. ¡No! is the first book in his series set in Skeletown, a fun, imaginative world inspired by Día de los Muertos.

Rhode Montijo es el creador de Gumazing Gum Girl!, una serie de libros de capítulos, y los libros Cloud Boy y The Halloween Kid. También publicó Pablo's Inferno, una serie de cómics independiente e ilustró varios libros para niños. Rhode recibió un BFA en ilustración del California College of Arts and Crafts (ahora California College of the Arts) y vive en el área de Los Ángeles. Skeletown: Sí. ¡No! es el primer libro de su serie basados en Skeletown, un mundo divertido e imaginativo inspirado en el Día de los Muertos.

Editorial Reviews

★ 07/31/2023

Set in a Día de Muertos–inspired world and using only two words—Sí and No—this playful book from Montijo uses the concept of opposites to explore social dynamics. Thick-lined black, white, and electric orange illustrations with screenprinting textures show two mischievous little skeletons moving throughout their day in Skeletown, picking out a gift, attending a birthday party, and riding a bike. But each activity reveals two takes: an initial image of one skeleton on the floor with a greeting card (“Sí”) is followed by a page turn that reveals the same scene as taking place in a shop, with cards spread all around (“No”). Eating a slice of vs. an entire cake, hitting a piñata vs. a beehive, and riding a bike vs. taking on a dangerous stunt are only a few of the many raucous events the busy skeletons get into, alone and with others. Good-natured, bustling cartooning reveals lots to laugh about in a friendly concept book that’s overwhelmingly a “Sí.” Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2023

* "The sublime, repeated juxtaposition of Sí and No offers wacky, surprising moments of levity, and it all comes together for a charming ending. A spectacular day in Skeletown."—Kirkus Reviews

* "Good-natured, bustling cartooning reveals lots to laugh about in a friendly concept book that’s overwhelmingly a 'Sí.'"—Publishers Weekly

"An interactive read-aloud story that helps teach children how to build healthy friendships and other life lessons."—School Library Journal

"Prereaders will have fun interpreting the reason behind each sí and no, and the final pages turn the plot toward the importance of collaboration and friendship—and, of course, a little mischief, too."—Booklist

"The text demonstrated a range of meanings for 'sí' and 'no' (the only two words in the book) with black, white, and blood orange images that are jam-packed with friendly skeleton details."—Horn Book

From the Publisher

07/21/2023

PreS-Gr 3—An illustrated story that can be read in either English or Spanish, this picture book creates an interactive experience. Two words appear on the pages: "Sí" and "¡No!" Readers have to discover why the illustrations merit a "Sí" or deserve a "¡No!" in each of the scenarios presented. The title page offers a clue to what the remaining pages will present: A skeleton boy rides his bike to the store and parks it in front of the door. He says, "Sí," while a skeleton girl says "¡No!" Readers follow the direction in which she points to see a small sign indicating "no bikes" affixed to the wall of the store. From there, the book illustrates various scenarios, including writing invitations to a party, how to treat decorations, how to select a gift, how to behave at a party, how to play safely with friends, how to treat nature, and how to take good care of one's things. Montijo leaves room for children to respond to the problems presented with their own solutions. Illustrations are red, black, and white, and repetition of images allows readers to play "I Spy" with the differences by identifying patterns and what does not fit. This book compares to those in the "Penelope Rex" series, in which a character has to learn right from wrong. Here, Montijo's message of how to treat nature and others with kindness and courtesy is presented with subtlety and an eye-catching, limited palette. VERDICT An interactive read-aloud story that helps teach children how to build healthy friendships and other life lessons.—Stephanie Creamer

School Library Journal

★ 2023-05-24
Down in Skeletown, a pair of tricksters get into mischief and hijinks in this monochromatic-flavored romp.

Time to prepare for a birthday! A round-headed little skeleton, similar to those seen in Dia de los Muertos imagery, lies on the floor with a card splayed open. The word Sí hovers above this scene. A page turn reveals that the young scamp is actually blocking the lane near the card rack. A frowning adult hovers nearby, with the word No atop the page. It’s a story of comical opposites, with text made up of only two words, as two young Skeletown hellions bring harmless, fun trouble to a birthday party. A big present for the birthday recipient certainly seems sweet (“Sí”), but then a jack-in-the-box pops out to cause a fright. “No” indeed. Take a small bite out of a slice of birthday cake (an easy “Sí” for most), but perhaps don’t gulp down the rest of the cake (a “No” if there ever was one). And bash the piñata, but watch out for a nearby beehive! It all culminates in a daredevil bicycle trick as one of the rascals pedals up a ramp to fly over the heads of the other partygoers. “¡No!” With bold, simple, thick-lined, black-and-white images set against a scratchy red background, Montijo’s Skeletown series opener oozes hilarity in an eye-popping package. The sublime, repeated juxtaposition of Síand Nooffers wacky, surprising moments of levity, and it all comes together for a charming ending. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A spectacular day in Skeletown. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews