Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rainbow hearts, stars, and lightning bolts punctuate this tale of a grandchild's evolving relationship with their grandmother. On Saturdays, cape-wearing superhéroe Luis and sidekick Abuela have their routine: "Super hugs! Check.... Super capas? Ready." They perform rescues and capture criminals (both involving the family canine) while being dogged by "tiny intruders"--the cat and Luis's sister. One Saturday, Luis builds a blanket fort for adventures as usual, "But Abuela never comes." Instead, the family visits her in the hospital, where Luis delivers "a super hug and powerful kisses." When she heads home, requiring rest, Luis wonders "When can I have my sidekick back?" and reprises their loving rituals as well as possible. Siqueira's play-by-play narrative movingly articulates Luis's arc from frustration to acceptance, and a slow warming toward taking on a new sidekick from the Latinx-cued family. Chavarri's hand-painted acrylic gouache and cut-paper illustrations pop with crisp vibrancy. A glossary concludes. English and Spanish versions publishing simultaneously. Ages 4--8. (Jan.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--Saturdays are special for Luis and his abuela. That's when they don their capes and become superhéroes, enjoying their super milkshakes and catching cupcake thieves. When Abuela doesn't arrive one Saturday, Luis and his little sister Isabel learn that Abuela is not well. When she comes to live with them, Luis tries to give Abuela her cape, but what Abuela really needs is rest. Luis is sure this is goodbye to their superhero identities, until he realizes that there is someone who could be his sidekick. As Luis passes on his special cape to little Isabel, Abuela gifts hers to Luis, and together Luis and Isabel take their abuela on adventures. Bursting with color, this vibrant picture book conveys the special and fun relationship between a grandmother and her grandson, with a darkness falling over the family as Abuela falls ill, and an explosion of color returning as Luis realizes that although things may be different, they can still have fun. Lively text is sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases and reflects the love the family has for Abuela and the uncertainty Luis feels. An extra spread depicts Abuela, Luis, and Isabel together, along with a glossary of Spanish words. VERDICT Beautiful and full of life, this picture book is an excellent choice for gently discussing the illness of a loved one as well as sharing the magical relationship between children and their grandparents. Highly recommended for picture book collections.--Selenia Paz
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When a Latine child's superabuela falls sick and hangs up her capa, a young superhéroe springs into action. On Saturdays, Super Luis and Sidekick Abuela get their superhéroe on, saving "citizens from danger" (keeping a vase from being knocked over by a tail-wagging dog), keeping cupcakes safe from household pets, and keeping lost capas out of the hands of "tiny intruders" like Luis' younger sister, Isabel. But when Saturday finally comes again, Luis and Isabel's parents reveal that Abuela is in the hospital. Despite Luis' (and Isabel's) superhugs and powerful kisses, Abuela returns home still "not superhéroe ready." Momentarily taken aback, Luis tries to speed up Abuela's recovery with even more superhugs, sips from a supershake, and smooches of "power-boosting kisses." Yet Abuela still quite doesn't return to her superself. What will Super Luis do without Sidekick Abuela? Though Siqueira and Chavarri's collaboration navigates rather serious subject matter, this slice-of-life tale concludes on a hopeful note as Isabel steps into the role of sidekick (Abuela does stick around until the end, thankfully). Often direct and playful, Siqueira's text, sprinkled with unitalicized Spanish words, assumes Luis' point of view, which works marvelously to render Abuela's physical decline in broad strokes. Chavarri's kaleidoscopic artwork dazzles thanks to a focus on comiclike visual flourishes and expressive characters, depicted as brown-skinned and dark-haired (Abuela is gray-haired). (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet ode to superhéroe abuelas everywhere. (glossary of Spanish words) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
