Rudas: Niño's Horrendous Hermanitas

This follow-up to Nino Wrestles the World (rev. 7/13) is brimming with action, humor, and heart. It's tecnicos ("'Good guys' who play by the rules") vs. rudos ("'Tough guys' who bend or break the rules") as Nino recounts a spirited wrestling rumpus with his misbehaving little sisters. As Nino tries to draw a storybook in peace, las hermanitas burst into his space -- a page-turn transforming their big brother into a luchador, sporting sneakers, undies, and a signature mask. "Cracking down on their opponents with incredibly rude feats" such as the "Poopy Bomb Blowout," las hermanitas cause a silly commotion and also disrupt Nino's make-believe buddies, some from Mexican lore. After Nino outsmarts his sore-loser sisters, they wail until Nino shares the book he created, delicately offering an opportunity for a successful "seize and squeeze" and pulling them close to revisit the excitement they just experienced. Morales's vibrant collages are filled with spongy textures and zigzags, reflecting the children's boisterous fun. Varied typefaces (ranging from announcer-style all-caps to colorful comic-book sound effects) add to the chaos, while speech bubbles echo the narrative by featuring expressions in both English and Spanish. Extra details (for example, Nino's name scribbled out with crayon markings and a toy block on top of the text) highlight the escapade as a product of the children's imaginative play; a cuddle at the end illuminates the joys and complexities of big-siblinghood. elisa gall

This follow-up to Niño Wrestles the World is brimming with action, humor, and heart. It's técnicos ("Good guys") vs. rudos ("Tough guys") as Niño recounts a spirited wrestling rumpus with his misbehaving little sisters. Morales's vibrant collages, filled with textures and zigzags, reflect the children's boisterous fun. Varied typefaces add to the chaos, while speech bubbles feature expressions in both English and Spanish.