Perla and the pirate

K-Gr 3--Perla the dog has two superpowers. First, she is loved by everyone who meets her, and second, she can roar like a lion. Perla and her owner Nico Rico were the first ones to spot the Pirate when he first moved in. They knew he was a pirate because he had the name PIRATES on his shirt, rode a Vespa, and had a guitar case. Nico's sister Liz wants to get on the Vespa, but their dad doesn't approve. After gathering magic dust that a wizard left behind, and of course using Perla's first superpower, Nico and Perla befriend the Pirate. They hear his rock band, The Pirates, practice. Dad and the whole neighborhood hate the music, but Liz loves it. All changes when the Pirate comes to the rescue. He and Perla work together to find a missing Nico, after a dark and rainy day made Mom late to pick him up from school. A charming tale about a special dog that will entertain readers. The story's message is a simple one: we shouldn't let our differences divide us or first impressions be stumbling blocks to friendships. Perla is effervescent in both editions. This is a great text to use in classrooms for teaching reading skills like cause and effect, problem and solution, and inference and characterization. VERDICT Include these in story time collections and picture book shelves. --Melanie Ortega

In this howlarious sequel to celebrated novelist Allende's picture bookPerla the Mighty Dog (2024), a superheroic pup comes to the rescue again. When a new boy moves in next door, Nico Rico and his pooch, Perla (who narrates), dub him the Pirate (because everything from his Vespa to his guitar case is adorned with a skull and crossbones). Nico, big sister Liz, and Perla can't wait to meet him, but Dad doesn't approve. Thanks to some magic dust left behind by a wizard who once resided in the hiding place under the stairs, Perla and Nico gather the courage to befriend the Pirate, and soon they're jamming out at his band practices. One rainy day, Nico's frustrated after waiting to be picked up from school and walks home alone--and quickly gets lost. A frantic search party ensues, and Perla jumps into action. Using "superpower number two" (roaring like a lion), the plucky pooch recruits Liz and the Pirate to find Nico. Like the first book, this humorous follow-up serves up plenty of laughs thanks to the superhero pup's confident, dry narration. Though the plot is a little unfocused, it nevertheless maintains fuzzy good feelings throughout. Rodríguez's bright watercolor-and-ink illustrations once more complement this narrative's cheerful disposition perfectly. Nico and his father have light-tan skin, his mother and sister present white, and the Pirate is brown-skinned. Another woof-worthy adventure.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.