Ortiz adds depth and dimension to characters readers would have previously only known on the silver screen.
The Madrigals are back with four exciting tales from the family’s past and present in Ortiz’s novel.
Have you ever wondered what happened to the Madrigal family after the ending of Disney’s popular animated musical fantasy film Encanto? What mischief do the village children get up to, and what place does the family have in it? Ortiz’s four new stories from the village shed a light on Mirabel’s brothers, sisters, and aunts and uncles in both the present day and, in the case of the latter, their childhoods. “Tall Tales” features a rascally Camilo coming up with an annoying if creative way to rout his cousin Antonio’s bully despite Mirabel’s desire that he directly speak to Antonio instead. Meanwhile, in “A Madrigal Showtime!” Mirabel encourages her sisters and cousin to perform in a local talent show, which Dolores is especially invested in because of her crush Mariano’s involvement. The Madrigals finally talk about Bruno in “Meet…Hernando!” where readers will see the elusive uncle struggle to make friends as a child and, not unlike Camilo in the first tale, invent a whole new character to get their attention. Bruno’s past isn’t so troubled, however, as in “Lovestruck” he sets out to fulfill a vision in which he foresees Pepa meeting her true love Félix for the very first time. Ortiz’s latest middle-grade graphic novel since Saving Chupie (2022) deftly replicates the bright colors, sweeping movements, and larger-than-life panache of the beloved film. Characters spill from the edges of panels, like Mariano cheering on the Madrigal girls. Each tale has its own entertaining spin on the importance of staying true to yourself and your talents. Its deft cross-generational storytelling ensures that no one is left out and that readers may be able to find their favorite character somewhere within its pages. Just as Mirabel describes the talent show, this book “is about celebrating life and love. It’s about having fun.”
Ortiz adds depth and dimension to characters readers would have previously only known on the silver screen.Pub Date: July 23, 2024
ISBN: 9781545811542
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Papercutz
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Fast and furious action guaranteed to keep new readers laughing and turning pages.
Never underestimate the chaotic fun that magic and an angry bouncing ball can create.
When Frog goes to the library, he borrows a book on magic. He then heads to a nearby park to read up on the skills necessary to becoming “a great magician.” Suddenly, a deflated yellow ball lands with a “Thud!” at his feet. Although he flexes his new magician muscles, Frog’s spells fall as flat as the ball. But when Frog shouts “Phooey!” and kicks the ball away, it inflates to become a big, angry ball. The ball begins to chase Frog, so he seeks shelter in the library—and Frog and ball turn the library’s usual calm into chaos. The cartoon chase crescendos. The ball bounces into the middle of a game of chess, interrupts a puppet show, and crashes into walls and bookcases. Staying just one bounce ahead, Frog runs, hides, grabs a ride on a book cart, and scatters books and papers as he slides across the library furniture before an alligator patron catches the ball and kicks it out the library door. But that’s not the end of the ball….Caple’s tidy panels and pastel-hued cartoons make a surprisingly effective setting for the slapstick, which should have young readers giggling. Simple sentences—often just subject and verb—with lots of repetition propel the action. Frog’s nonsense-word spells (“Poof Wiffle, Bop Bip!”) are both funny and excellent practice in phonetics. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Fast and furious action guaranteed to keep new readers laughing and turning pages. (Graphic early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: Aug. 10, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4341-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
A visual and emotional symphony.
A tiger, with some unusual help, fights off a nightmare.
Tiger’s parents don’t quite believe that the reason she carries extra curry or tacos from the supper table to her bedroom is because she has a monster under her bed, but it’s true. Monster was supposed to scare her long ago, but instead they play together nightly. Then, while Tiger sleeps, Monster scares away Tiger’s horned, multieyed, centipedelike nightmares—until a nightmare with a long-jawed white skull and a changeable, smoky body arrives. It conquers Monster and reaches Tiger. From now on, Tiger and Monster must work together. The plans they implement are brilliant and brave, and their hard-won victory (it takes a few tries) couldn’t be more triumphant, relieving, or empowering. Compositions range from full-bleed spreads to pages holding multiple sequential panels. Using watercolors and pencils, Tetri creates one color-world of inky blues (Monster; nighttime) and another of oranges and yellows (Tiger; daytime). The meanings of each color-world hold nuance and complexity: The nightmares are of the blue world, but so are coziness and small, dear Monster; Tiger’s victory explodes with warm colors like dawn, but she could only achieve it at night. Rich details enhance the setting inconspicuously: Tiger’s parents, also tigers, run a repair shop for flying cars; one parent is Dad while the other is of undesignated gender.
A visual and emotional symphony. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-62672-535-5
Page Count: 64
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2018
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