Lowriders to the Rescue (Lowriders #4)

by Cathy Camper (Author) Raúl The Third (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Lowriders

The next book in the acclaimed Lowriders series combines comics, Spanish, mixing cultures, science, superheroes, and first loves for an out-of-this-world graphic novel experience.

A changing planet means new problems—and new friends—for nuestros amigos favoritos!

Meet Lupe, a whip-smart impala with a flair for mechanics
Flapjack, a sweet young octopus who can shine up anything with his eight gleaming tentacles
and Elirio, a thoughtful mosquito who's fascinated with words and determined to become an artist.

What do all three have in common? A love of lowriders—and a passion for solving problems!

Nothing is normal in the little town where the Lowriders live. To start, Flappy can't see a thing! He keeps mistaking fire hydrants for sailors and laundry for love interests. Even more worrying, the Upscale Business Association is determined to make more money than ever by tearing down local shops in favor of a brand-new development for wealthy landowners. Most disconcerting of all, the monarchs who usually migrate through town at this time of year are nowhere to be found. But when Sokar, a beautiful young monarch, bikes into town with a broken wing, she has scary news to report: A dangerous wildfire is burning fast and hot and nonstop, leaving the monarchs stranded.

Might Sokar and Flappy have more in common than meets the goggles? How can the Lowriders save their town? And exactly how powerful is passion in the face of an overheated planet's furious flames?

Humor, Spanish, and lowriders come together in this rollicking journey through the bumpy terrain of new friends, climate change, and standing up for what you believe in. ¡Vámonos!

ACCLAIMED SERIES: Books in the Lowriders series have won the Pura Belpré award, and won the hearts of readers and reviewers. Discover why kids—and their adults—love reading about the Lowriders!

PERFECT FOR RELUCTANT READERS: Bold illustrated spreads, funny storylines, and lots to look at on every page keep reluctant readers engaged all the way through these delightfully entertaining books.

DIVERSE CAST OF CHARACTERS: Latinx and Arab cultures are beautifully celebrated in this book, with fascinating facts about these unexpectedly intersecting cultures.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FOR KIDS: These books tackle so many contemporary and relevant issues. Readers will learn about monarch butterfly migrations and sustainable energy: The Lowriders refurbish their car to be solar-powered!

VISUALLY DYNAMIC: Raúl's unique art style is visually refreshing and extremely engaging for kid readers, especially those who love comics and graphic novels!

Perfect for:

• Fans of the previous Lowriders books
• Comic and graphic novel lovers
• Reluctant readers
• Educators and librarians looking for diverse books

Select format:
Paperback
$12.99

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Kirkus

Vibrant visuals will draw kids into a story with an optimistic message about standing up to injustice.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7--Cultures, technologies, and families unite in this rallying cry for eco-friendly change. When a forest fire endangers a family of anthropomorphic Arabic monarch butterflies, daughter Sokar escapes to the nearby city to find help. She encounters the Latinx lowriders--an impala, a mosquito, and an octopus who all adore cars--and they take her in. They learn about each other's culture, including food, aesthetics, and language. English translations for Spanish and Arabic words appear at the bottom of each page and in an appended glossary. The lowriders deploy a series of technological marvels to solve ecological and economic issues. Beaming faces and effortless solutions threaten to turn the book's optimistic attitude into parody, though younger readers will appreciate seeing positive changes take place so soon, and there is much to learn about science and Latinx and Arabic culture. Rendered in ballpoint pen, the textured illustrations are vibrant and expressive. Back matter includes personal, historical, and scientific notes about the many inspirations behind the story. VERDICT This bursting medley of community and planetary mindfulness is as colorful as it is inventive. Best experienced after the earlier books.

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

If you're wondering if Cathy Camper and Raúl the Third can make a bad book, well . . . the answer is, no. They can't. As long as there are-and I never thought I'd say this-impalas, mosquitos, octopuses, and of course, lowriders involved, these two can do no wrong. I'd even go as far as to say they're one of the most creative (and funny!) duos working today. -Jason Reynolds, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
Cathy Camper
Cathy Camper is the author of several books, including Bugs Before Time, Ten Ways to Hear Snow, and the Lowriders series. She also writes zines, including Sugar Needle, and is a founding member of the Portland Women of Color zine collective. A graduate of VONA/Voices writing workshops for people of color, Cathy is a librarian in Portland, Oregon, where she does outreach to schools, working with kids in grades K-12.

Raúl the Third is the Pura Belpré Award-winning artist of Lowriders to the Center of the Earth. Raúl visits classrooms throughout the country, where he spreads his love of drawing and comic books to students of all ages. He was born in the desert city of El Paso, Texas, under the watchful eye of the Thunderbird on the mountain. He was raised to love reading and drawing when his mother Olga took him and his brothers to the library. He discovered comic books all by his lonesome at the local 7-Eleven.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781452179490
Lexile Measure
550
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Chronicle Books
Publication date
May 31, 2022
Series
Lowriders
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
Library of Congress categories
Animals
Graphic novels
Mexican Americans
Cartoons and comics
Pollution
Wildfires
Climatic changes
Lowriders

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