Lucia the Luchadora and the Million Masks (Lucia the Luchadora #2)

PreS-Gr 2--Lucía is back, this time with her little sister Gemma in tow. But while Lucía can leap from the tree house, landing full of pizzazz, Gemma "goes CRACK, she goes CRUNCH, Bumble, Tumble, Splat" and, she's also prone to trouble. When the younger child makes a ginormous hole in her sister's beloved mask, Abuela explains that Gemma just wants to be a luchadora like Lucía, and comes up with an idea. Abu takes the girls to a mercado, better described by Lucía as a "splendiferousmarket!" At the stand with all the lucha libre masks, Abu tells them about a famous luchador known as "Mil Máscaras," who wore a different mask every time he went into the ring. As Gemma wonders which mask to choose, Lucía wonders what it would be like to be the Girl of a Thousand Masks. When Gemma disappears into the market following a kitten, Lucía follows close behind. They eventually catch up to the animal, and are finally in agreement--they must find the kitten's family. Employing different colors, fonts, and sizes, the text in this second adventure is just as vibrant and jubilant as the first; reading it aloud a must. The very expressive illustrations capture Lucía's endearing and outsize personality with humor and gusto. VERDICT Abu's words ring true: "Remember, the best adventures are shared." Another storytime hit.--Lucia Acosta, Children's Literature Specialist, Princeton, NJ