Poco Loco

PreS-Gr 1—Poco Loco is a most unusual mouse. He's an inventor who combines two seemingly unrelated items into unique but practical creations. A Cuckoo Clock-Coffeemaker and a Waffle Iron-Weather Forecaster are just two examples of his machines. "And the Shower-Bed-most think it's just plain loco. That's why everyone calls him Poco Loco." With a glossary of Spanish words to help them along, readers follow Poco Loco as he tries to warn his friends of mal tiempo (bad weather). However, they do not heed his advice and soon find themselves on a picnic in the middle of a storm. All ends well, thanks to Poco Loco's genius invention of a helicópter-paraguas (helicopter umbrella). This book will work well during storytimes; its refrain of "¡Ay, Poco Loco!" encourages crowd participation and it has many other opportunities for interaction with the story. The rhyming sentences flow off the tongue and are impossible to say without enthusiasm. "Gato runs!/Gato jumps!/Gato grips tight-…and Gato takes flight!" The digital illustrations are bright and colorful, and a perfect match for the exuberant text. This ratón should find a home in libraries everywhere.—Brooke Rasche, La Crosse Public Library, WI