My Family Adventure (Sofia Martinez)

Three three-chapter stories comprise this humorous first book in the Sofia Martinez series, which features a highly personable elementary schooler and her tight-knit Hispanic family. In the first tale, Sofia struggles to stand out from her two older sisters, opting to take a cue from Baby Mariella and her oversize, attention-getting hair bow. Sofia and her cousins have a messy time making a pinata for their abuela in the second story, and an escaped pet mouse wreaks havoc in the third. Spanish words and phrases, printed in pink, appear throughout the text and dialogue (a glossary is included, though most of the Spanish words are decipherable through context), and Smith's illustrations give Sofia and her family warmth and style--they look ready to headline an animated series of their own. Ages 5-7. Illustrator's agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.)

Gr 1-2—Seven-year-old Sofia is the youngest of three sisters and likes to take charge of every situation. As school picture day arrives, she worries that no one can tell the girls apart and exchanges her photo from the previous year with that of a sibling. When no one notices the change, she seeks the aid of Hector, her faithful cousin and neighbor, to help her put together a look that no one will miss. Next, Sofia decides to make a pinata for her grandmother's birthday, which results in spilled flour, a very messy cat, and lots of family assistance. Her final escapade involves a runaway pet mouse in the house. Tender relationships with immediate and extended family, and especially with her papa, result in a lighthearted, enjoyable read. The illustrations are colorful and lively, albeit repetitive in nature, with characters looking a bit indistinguishable. Reminiscent of the television show Maya and Miguel, this book is appropriate for early readers, with widely spaced, large-size type, and generous use of white space. The inclusion of common Spanish terms and phrases lends a sense of authenticity to the characters, while the use of bright pink font to distinguish these words in the primarily English narrative and the addition of a glossary provides scaffolds for young readers.—Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, IL