Vida The mice, the cat, and the alebrije

K-Gr 2--Vida and her brother Máximo live in Ratontepec, or Mousetepec in English, a town full of life, where they help their mother sell piñatas in the bustling market. The town is full of joy, and people come together to buy delicious food, enjoy music, and dance. That all changes when a cat comes to the town, casting a shadow over the once-happy streets, and all the mice withdraw into their homes. Vida and Máximo decorate ordinary objects, such as bottles and cans, with vibrant colors to pass the time, creating stunning animals and decorative masks. Vida brings everyone together to create an alebrije, colorful and giant, to finally scare away the cat and bring jubilance back to the town. Vibrant spreads share the light found in Mousetepec that becomes shrouded in grays and shadows as the cat arrives. The mice are cheerful, and light fills the illustrations, while the cat is presented only as a shadow until the final reveal, which adds to the suspense. Tonatiuh's striking art will introduce readers to the alebrije, with an author's note providing more history on the art of wood carving in Mexico. A glossary, pronunciation guide, and bibliography accompany the text. VERDICT This Spanish picture book, available simultaneously in English, is a wonderful way to introduce the meaningful art and history of the alebrije while reminding readers that they can come together to shine a light in a shadow-filled world.--Selenia Paz

Artistically minded rodents fight back against their feline terrorizer in Tonatiuh's prescient fable. On a dreadful, star-filled night, a looming shadow ("¡Un gato!") falls over the bustling, effervescent town of Mousetepec, and everything changes. As the cat uses its terrible claws to frighten the residents, Mousetepec loses its colorful spirit: The mousefolk stay home, the mercado closes, the fiestas stop, the plaza remains quiet, and the raspado cart stands abandoned. To bring cheer back into their lives, Vida and her brother, Máximo, start painting household objects--containers, jugs, bottles--in kaleidoscopic colors while transforming old buckets and cereal boxes into vibrant masks. When Máximo wanders outside in an ill-timed attempt to bring color back to the town, Vida rushes to his aid, donning one of their frightfully colorful masks to scare the lunging cat away. The confrontation spurs Vida to dream of a large neon creature called an alebrije, which inspires a plan to scare away the creature that's been menacing Mousetepec. Tonatiuh expertly maintains a brisk pace that engages and tickles. His familiar pre-Columbian-flavored artwork beautifully complements this simply told yet moving fable of collective resistance, boasting bursts of color and provocative shadows across splendid double-page spreads. Insightful backmatter on alebrijes--folk art sculptures--and the tale's origins draw incisive parallels between the art form's history in Mexico and the increasing violence that has afflicted the country over the past few decades. Utterly mesmerizing. (glossary and pronunciation guide, bibliography)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.