★ 01/31/2019
This picture book graphic novel by Raúl the Third (Low Riders to the Center of the Earth ) celebrates the richness of border-town culture. The artist shows Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé as they make deliveries to Mercado de Chauhtémoc la Curiosidad, “a maze of pathways, shops, and booths.” Spanish and English words intermingle on the page as Little Lobo goes first to a warehouse to pick up items merchants have asked for (“clothes pins—pinzas para la ropa”), then heads for the market. Witty, stylish panel artwork crackles with funky comic energy, and the market churns with activity as merchants sell sweets (Little Lobo buys a churro), make piñatas, and paint on velvet. Little Lobo brings the clothespins to Señor Duende, who gives him a comic book about his favorite luchador, El Toro. “It would be great if we could meet El Toro one day,” Little Lobo sighs. Miraculously, as if the pleasures of churros and comics were not enough, he gets to give his hero a ride home. Most pleasing is the market’s atmosphere of warmth and affection: “Siempre tiene prisa!” the jarmaker clucks fondly after Little Lobo: “Always in a hurry!” Spanish words define background objects throughout (fuego describes a fire breather’s warm emanation) and a Spanish-to-English glossary concludes this inventive picture book. Ages 4–7. (Apr.)
Hats off to Raúl the Third for this BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL new picture book. You can read it a hundred times and see something new and extraordinary every time.” — Dav Pilkey, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dog Man series
"Witty, stylish panel artwork crackles with funky comic energy.... Most pleasing is the market’s atmosphere of warmth and affection." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The comics-style illustrations of anthropomorphic creatures, objects, and places are full of detail and very enjoyable to explore.... This simple morning walk turns into a scavenger hunt of Spanish words and Mexican cultural elements." — Horn Book (starred review)
“The grab bag of bilingual terms embedded in dialogue, signage, and stray scraps of text invite all readers to have a grand time latching onto what they know and figuring out what they don’t.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
"This picture book entertains and informs readers through fresh and engaging art, advancing Spanish vocabulary and cultural references. A winner." — School Library Journal (starred review)
“The Book of the Year is now out!” — Tom Angleberger, New York Times bestselling author of the Origami Yoda series
"Excellent for English and Spanish language learners alike.... This lively, inviting picture book offers readers a playful glimpse into a desert world surrounded by mountains and cactuses." — Booklist
"A culturally intricate slice of a lupine courier's life." — Kirkus Reviews
"[T]he grab bag of bilingual terms embedded in dialogue, signage, and stray scraps of text invite all readers to have a grand time latching onto what they know and figuring out what they don’t."–The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , STARRED review "Witty, stylish panel artwork crackles with funky comic energy....Most pleasing is the market’s atmosphere of warmth and affection."–Publishers Weekly , STARRED review "This picture book entertains and informs readers through fresh and engaging art, advancing Spanish vocabulary and cultural references. A winner."–School Library Journal, STARRED review "The comics-style illustrations of anthropomorphic creatures, objects, and places are full of detail and very enjoyable to explore....[T]this simple morning walk turns into a scavenger hunt of Spanish words and Mexican cultural elements." –The Horn Book , STARRED review "Excellent for English and Spanish language learners alike....This lively, inviting picture book offers readers a playful glimpse into a desert world surrounded by mountains and cactuses."–Booklist "A culturally intricate slice of a lupine courier's life."–Kirkus
From the Publisher - SPANISH COMMENTARY
★ Winter 2018
K-Gr 2— It is an exciting day for Little Lobo. Today, he is going to the market with his dog, Bernabé. The desert town is vibrant with commerce, street vendors, and an array of animal inhabitants. For Little Lobo there is no stopping; he absolutely enjoys greeting acquaintances, delighting in street performances, and fulfilling his job of delivering supplies at the market. Gonzalez has created a simple narrative that includes Spanish vocabulary, which is playfully positioned surrounding the many streets, food stores, and buildings, encouraging readers to say the Spanish words as they turn the pages. The cartoon images set a festive tone, inspired by El Mercado Cuauhtémoc in Juárez, Mexico, with a soft- toned autumnal palette. The book contains a glossary with the vocabulary words and their respective pronouns. VERDICT This picture book entertains and informs readers through fresh and engaging art, advancing Spanish vocabulary and cultural references. A winner.—Kathia Ibacache, Simi Valley Public Library, CA
2019-01-15
Little Lobo and his dog, Bernabé, journey through a Mexican mercado delivering diverse goods to a variety of booths.
With the aid of red words splattered throughout the spreads as labels, Raúl the Third gives an introduction to Spanish vocabulary as Little Lobo, an anthropomorphic wolf, leaves his house, fills his cart with objects from his warehouse, and delivers them to the market's vendors. The journey also serves as a crash course in Mexican culture, as the images are packed with intertextual details such as food, traditional games, and characters, including Cantinflas, Frida Khalo, and Juan Gabriel. Readers acquainted with Raúl the Third's characters from his Lowriders series with author Cathy Camper will appreciate cameos from familiar characters. As he makes his rounds, Little Lobo also collects different artifacts that people offer in exchange for his deliveries of shoe polish, clothespins, wood, tissue paper, paintbrushes, and a pair of golden laces. Although Raúl the Third departs from the ball-pen illustrations that he is known for, his depiction of creatures and critters peppering the borderland where his stories are set remains in his trademark style. The softer hues in the illustrations (chosen by colorist Bay) keep the busy compositions friendly, and the halftone patterns filling the illustrations create foregrounds and backgrounds reminiscent of Roy Lichtenstein's pointillism.
A culturally intricate slice of a lupine courier's life. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-7)
Lively music and narrator Gary Tiedemann’s playful opening make for a warm greeting at the start of this charming children’s audiobook. Little Lobo, a wolf, and his pet dog, Bernabé, wake up and set out for a busy day at the mercado. Listeners will delight at the layered sound effects that create a bustling scene with squeaky cart wheels, busy chatter, and chirping birds—all of which pull listeners into the story. Little Lobo rolls along with his cart, delivering supplies throughout the mercado and stopping for a visit at each booth. Tiedemann’s well-paced narration shifts smoothly between the English and the Spanish of the characters. Curious listeners will want to seek out the picture book, a Pura Belpré Award winner packed with rich illustrations. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
