El diario secreto de Pulgarcito

Gr 3—5—In the same vein as the Grimms' "Hansel and Gretel," Pulgarcito and his six brothers are abandoned in the forest, left to fend for themselves, and picked up by a strange old woman and her ogre of a husband, who, as it turns out, have quite the habit of making children into their next meal. Pulgarcito, being the smallest but also the most courageous, quickly uncovers the couple's intentions and works out a plan of escape, which then leads to discoveries that bring an end to his village's great famine. Pulgarcito's heroism also has the added advantage of uniting him with his great love, Marimota Matarile. In the tradition of a really great graphic novel, the pictures tell most of the story. The illustrations are odd, intriguing, and beautiful in a bold and spooky way. While reluctant readers may be challenged by the advanced and lyrical prose, the illustrations are sure to capture the imagination of fairy-tale lovers of all ages.—Jessica McClinton López, King County Library System, Auburn, WA