(3) K-3 Translated by Elisa Amado. Illustrated by Emilio Urberuaga. The rain forest animals can't sleep: they must minister to a crying baby animal that they find in an abandoned box; suspensefully, its identity isn't revealed to readers until late in this gently humorous tale about helping others. Readers will be seduced by the moonlit illustrations of the animals hovering over their charge, who is sympathetic despite not being seen.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Translated by Caroline Travalia. Illustrated by Emilio Urberuaga. In this third Manolito book, our hero actually becomes a hero while having to stay in town when the rest of the world is vacationing. Manolito's narrative voice is engaging and knowingly sarcastic; with his digressions and explanations, he sounds like a real child. The story is particularly effective in subtly integrating explanations of Spanish culture for uninitiated readers.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) 4-6 Translated by Caroline Travalia. Illustrated by Emilio Urberuaga. It's a pleasure to see a second Manolito book getting an English translation. While the "plot" is little more than a loosely connected series of anecdotes, illustrated with spirited black-and-white drawings, they're really funny ones (e.g., mistakenly calling out the name of a player from the other team during a soccer match). Manolito's breezy first-person narration is charming and completely believable.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) 4-6 Translated by Joanne Moriarty. Illustrated by Emilio Urberuaga. Manolito Four-Eyes, a well-known character in Spain, has finally made it to the United States. This humorous episodic book follows ten-year-old Manolito, called "four-eyes" because of the glasses he's worn forever, as he navigates his Madrid neighborhood. With the help of his family, especially his grandfather, Manolito deals with bullies, friends, and the school psychologist in ways that will keep readers laughing.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham