The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy (the Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy Book #1) - by Donna Barba Higuera (Hardcover)

About the Book

A young cucuy, assigned to scare a boy named Ramâon, struggles to frighten him when Ramâon is too preoccupied with worrying about starting a new school, leading to an unexpected friendship between them.

Book Synopsis

A young monster befriends the human child he's been assigned to scare in this spooky-funny chapter book debut from Newbery Medal-winning author Donna Barba Higuera, with illustrations throughout by Juliana Perdomo

It's a monster's ancient duty to inflict unimaginable horrors on misbehaving kids.

But when a young cucuy who's anxious to prove himself is sent to the human world to terrorize his first child, the naughty niño isn't scared by glowing eyes, sharp talons, or even disgusting breath. Instead, he's preoccupied with worries about his first day at a new school. Can the little cucuy prove himself as a fierce boogeyman? As he soon learns from his human, maybe some things are scarier than creatures under the bed . . . and maybe even a monster could use a friend.

Featuring two-color illustrations throughout, this first chapter book from Newbery Medal-winning author Donna Barba Higuera and acclaimed artist Juliana Perdomo delightfully blends sly humor, light spookiness, and lots of heart, and is perfect for fans of Jon Klassen's The Skull.

More Aventuras with Ramón and El Cucuy (Picture Books):
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!
It's Navidad, El Cucuy!

Review Quotes

***STARRED REVIEW***

"Tantalizing bits of monstrous worldbuilding and humor derived from the little cucuy's befuddled fascination with the human realm elevate the story to exuberant heights."

--Kirkus Review

***STARRED REVIEW***
"[A] cute rather than scary read...For young readers who enjoyed Higuera's El Cucuy picture books"--School Library Journal

"El Cucuy's limited understanding of the human world provides plenty of humor, while the story's message about the value of chosen families and the universal need for belonging comes through loud and clear."--Horn Book Magazine

"Higuera offers a witty and tender inversion of traditional monster tales...The prose is brisk, fun, and emotionally astute, balancing light, spooky elements with genuine reflections on childhood vulnerability and character growth...this title skillfully combines accessible language, cultural richness, and emotional resonance."--Booklist

About the Author

Donna Barba Higuera grew up dodging dust devils in the oil fields of central California. She was a daydreamer, constantly blending life experiences and folklore into stories. Higuera currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, two dogs, 11 chickens, and one frog. She is the author of the picture books El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! and It's Navidad, El Cucuy!, both illustrated by Juliana Perdomo, and she is also the author of the middle-grade novels The Last Cuentista, winner of the Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award, Alebrijes, winner of the Pura Belpré Honor, and Lupe Wong Won't Dance, winner of a Pura Belpré Honor, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, and a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. Juliana Perdomo is a Colombian illustrator and writer with a background as a psychologist and art therapist. Her work is joyful and heartfelt, folkish, and a bit retro with a Latin touch. Perdomo lives in Bogotá, Colombia, with her amazing son, Luca, her rocker partner, Iván, and a funny old dog named Menta.