by Raul the Third
Colors by Elaine Bay
Published by Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018
40 pages
978-1-328-55726-1
Ages 3-10
Using a comics format, Raúl the Third tells a story about Little Lobo and his trusty dog Bernabé delivering goods to the Mercado. The eclectic list includes shoe polish, clothespins, wood, tissue paper, paint brushes, and golden laces. Each item is put to use by the vendor who ordered it, while Little Lobo is given something in return for each delivery. The highly visual storytelling is grounded in details of Mexican culture, and full of humor that will appeal to a wide age range. All of the characters are anthropomorphized animals, and many of the items in the Mercado are labeled in Spanish (defined in English in a glossary at book’s end), loosely reminiscent of a Richard Scarry book but with far greater sophistication, and cultural depth. A subplot about a luchador named El Toro, who happens to be Little Lobo’s favorite, comes to satisfying conclusion for Little Lobo and readers alike (who did you think the golden laces were for?). Ink and Photoshop were combined to create illustrations that are full of energy and color. Young readers will want to return to the Mercado with Little Lobo again and again. ©2019 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
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