The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra

PreS-Gr 1—Stepping away from nonfiction, Nobleman, in his first fiction picture book, presents a playful twist on outsmarting a predator. After worrying if tonight is the night the chupacabra "comes for dinner," three nervous goats—Jayna, Bumsie, and Pep—take fate in their own hands and leave to try to scare the creature off. With a candelabra to guide them, they head toward the monster's home, but the chupacabra finds them and eats their candelabra, as candelabras happen to be his third-favorite food. The goats, all of whom have distinct personalities, deal with being kept on their toes by the chupacabra. As the title suggests, there is a lot of playful language throughout, as the chupacabra not only eats candelabras but also munches cucarachas (his second-favorite food). Aranda's illustrations, which extend the text, elevate this title and burst with humor. Her bright pinks, yellows, and purples vibrate off the page in the often nighttime setting. The snaggle-toothed but adorable chupacabra sometimes lurks in the background, while other times his shadow comically dominates the page. Everything comes together when the beastie finally gets to eat his absolute favorite food—goat cheese.