Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!

Reviewed by: Cidney Mayes - Wells Public Library, Wells, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 11, 2015

Review

Chico Canta, the littlest mouse in a family twelve, saves the day in this delightful tale. Chico's bilingual family lives in an old theater, and loves going to plays and putting them on for friends. However, they must always watch out for the kitten, Little Gato Gato, who wants to eat the mice. During one play, Little Gato Gato sneaks up on the mice family in the middle of the play, and Chico cleverly scares the cat away. Readers will be exposed to Spanish and Italian phrases in Mora's story, a retelling of a well-known Cuban folk tale called "The Barking Mouse." The foreign phrases are always paired with an English translation of the phrase. The text often overwhelms the small pictures, but the illustrations are playful and offer glimpses of tiny mice in delightful costumes. This book is suitable for ages 5 to 8.

Overall Book Score: good