Twins vs. triplets Back-to-school blitz

Gr 2--5--David is excited to begin third grade. He studied all summer for Geography Club and is hoping to be captain of the Globetrotters. Also, the Romero twins will not be in his class this year. "Traviesos," Spanish for "troublemakers," is one of Mom's favorite nicknames for the twins, who are always pulling pranks on David. Once, they rigged a jumbo-size jar of pickles to pour over his head when he stepped outside his door. All summer, David had to avoid the shaving cream--filled balloons that the twins tossed at him. But since his parents spoke to the principal, David will not have to deal with Ash and Iris anymore. As his mom would say, "No hay problema." Now David is free from the Romeros, but what about his new neighbors? Bennie, Beckett, and Bird Benitez will be in his class…triplets! Plus, the teacher has asked him to help them acclimate to Arroyo Seco Elementary School. As recess becomes a competition between the Romero twins and the Benitez triplets for control of the tower, David and his friends must avoid the pranks while trying to keep their playground from becoming off-limits. David and his best friend, Edith, devise a plan to put an end to the competition using their geography skills. Will the plan work? Torres weaves Spanish terms throughout, and most of the primary characters have Latinx surnames. End-of-chapter reader prompts and activities at the book's conclusion will encourage reader interaction. The black-and-white digital illustrations enhance the wacky plot. VERDICT Early readers who appreciate humorous school stories will enjoy this series debut.--Annette Herbert, F.E. Smith Elem. Sch., Cortland, NY

A straight-laced boy deals with a mischievous pair of twins and a set of triplets in this series opener. Poor, rule-following David! He'd been looking forward to the best school year ever on his first day of third grade. Thanks to his parents and school principal, he would never again have to be in the same class with his next-door neighbors, the Romero twins--or Travieso Twins, as David and his mom call them due to their troublemaking proclivities. Alas, David doesn't realize his new neighbors include a set of triplets. Mischievous triplets. When the Benitez kids try to take charge of the tower on the school playground that's been claimed as Twin Territory, a veritable war of the multiples begins. Hijinks ensue, and all the kids suffer, albeit in entertaining ways. David will have to step outside his comfort zone if he ever wants to enjoy some peace and quiet. Statements meant to encourage transitioning readers appear at the end of many chapters. Supported by textual naming conventions, Flores' art portrays a racially diverse neighborhood and classroom; her characterizations are expressive and animated. David, the twins, and the triplets are cued as Latinx. Torres excels with this well-paced early chapter book that both respects her readers' abilities and doesn't pander to them. A good choice to grow any early chapter book collection. (activities) (Fiction. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.