Crack Goes the ­Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! by Sara Andrea Fajardo. illus. by Rocío Arreola Mendoza. Knopf. Feb. 2025. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593805671.
K-Gr 3–Cascarones are empty eggshells that have been decorated, filled with confetti, and sealed. A Latinx Easter tradition involves breaking them over loved ones’ heads. In this story, egg puns abound when Toti, the self-proclaimed “King of Cascarones,” prepares for his favorite Easter “shellabration.” Toti has been carefully removing the tops of eggs and filling them with not just old-school confetti, but also surprises like slime and “smoke-screen cascarones,” so no one will see him coming. “I’m a mastermind of eggceptional creations!” he gloats. But Toti doesn’t have any idea that this Easter, his family has some shell-shocking surprises of their own. Filled with the bright, inviting colors of Easter, these jam-packed illustrations burst with movement, life, and celebration—a fitting complement to the the playful narrative highlighting family time and the importance of tradition. Peppered with Spanish words that are translated easily from context; prankster energy; and wide, oversized smiles on every family member from Toti to Abuela, readers will no doubt be inspired to eat their eggs and save the shells so they, too, can dive into the tradition of cascarón making with their own families—no matter which holidays they celebrate. The back of the book contains illustrated instructions for how to make cascarones. VERDICT A playful and unique addition to Easter holiday books.-Rebecca Kirshenbaum

Cascarones: An Easter ­Surprise/Una sorpresa de Pascuas by Alicia Salazar. illus. by Aimee del Valle. Arte Publico/Piñata. May 2025. 32p. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9798893750157.
K-Gr 3–A family prepares for a Pascuas celebration in this fun bilingual picture book. A young girl quickly befriends readers as she shares her love for Easter and for the celebration her family has every year—one that is full of cascarones. Beginning in January, she and her family carefully save eggshells by cleaning them. When they have enough, they color and decorate them together, filling them with confetti. As Easter nears, they prepare baskets for relatives and put the finishing touches on their decorated eggs. When the day arrives, Papá hides the eggs in the park, and the family looks for them together. The narrator shows her little brother a secret at the end: cracking an egg on his head and enjoying his surprise as the confetti fills the air around him. Bilingual text in English and Spanish shares the girl’s enthusiasm and love for the holiday and for cascarones—from the moment they begin saving eggshells to the moment they release the confetti. Beautiful watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of the lovely shades cascarones can take on as they are painted and emphasize the enthusiasm, love, and happiness the family shares, as well as the joy the holiday tradition brings them all. VERDICT A lovely picture book that shares a fun tradition many families enjoy during Easter, this bilingual picture book is perfect for children’s collections and a great holiday choice.-Selenia Paz