• Age: 4 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

En este encantador libro-álbum, un ratoncito, Chico Canta, salva a su familia del pequeño pero astuto Gato-Gatito, gracias a su agilidad mental y su conocimiento de otro idioma.

Chico Canta, el menor de doce hermanos, es un ratoncito travieso y temerario que vive con su familia en un viejo teatro. A todos les encanta subir al palco. Desde allí miran los espectáculos y luego gritan, “¡Bravo, bravo!” con el público, cuando cae el telón.

La señora Canta vive arreando a todos sus hijos de un lado a otro, y a Chico en particular. Siempre les dice: “¡Pronto! ¡Pronto! Hurry! Hurry!” Ella habla muchísimos idiomas: español, inglés e italiano, pero también araña, grillo y polilla. También anima a sus hijos a desarrollar sus propias capacidades lingüísticas: “¡Bravo, bilingüe!” les dice siempre.

Una noche, después de una maravillosa puesta en escena de Los tres cerditos, la familia de ratones está a punto de caer entre las garras del Gato-Gatito. Una vez superado el susto, los ratoncitos se animan a montar su propia versión de la obra. Sigue una actividad intensa: el señor Canta supervisa la costura de los disfraces y la construcción de la escenografía, mientras la señora Canta dirige a las grillos músicos, a las arañas escenógrafos y a las polillas acomodadoras del público. Pero cuando al fin llega la noche del estreno, la verdadera estrella resulta ser Chico Canta. Desde la escena, el ratoncito detecta al Gato-Gatito en la sombra y enseguida utiliza su maravilloso don para los idiomas para evitar el desastre.

Las tiernas ilustraciones de Amelia Lau Carling, reflejan todas las emociones que viven Chico Canta y su familia: sus alegrías y hazañas, sus temores y triunfos. Todo esto, contra el telón de fondo del viejo y elegante teatro.

Una nota de la autora Pat Mora describe cómo ella y su hija Libby escribieron esta historia, inspiradas en un chiste bilingüe que leyeron en un libro de cuentos méxico-americanos.

Through her writing for all ages, presenting, and advocacy, Pat enjoys sharing what she calls bookjoy. The author of more than thirty-five award-winning children’s books, as well as poetry and nonfiction for adults and young people, Pat is also a literacy advocate. In 1996, she founded Children’s Day, Book Day / El día de los niños, El día de los libros. Many cultures have traditions for honoring their loved ones. In her recent book, The Remembering Day / El Día de los Muertos, Pat imagines how this custom may have started in Mexico. Other recent children’s books include Water Rolls, Water Rises / El agua rueda, el agua sube and two books with her daughter Libby Martinez, I Pledge Allegiance and Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo! Among her other children’s books, many available in Spanish or bilingual editions, are The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe; her haiku collection Yum! / ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico! and Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart.

Pat Mora's profile page

Libby Martinez is an award-winning Latina children’s book author and poet. She is the co-author, with Pat Mora, of I Pledge Allegiance, which was recognized as Best Children’s Picture Book by the Texas Institute of Letters and the International Latino Book Awards. Libby is also the co-author of Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!, which was a Junior Library Guild Selection (Spanish edition) and appeared on National Public Radio’s Diverse Summer Reading List for Kids. Libby is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Stanford Law School. She lives in Colorado Springs.

Libby Martinez's profile page

AMELIA LAU CARLING was born and brought up in Guatemala. Her parents' store sold the thread used by many Maya weavers in their extraordinary work. She was, therefore, in constant contact with Maya culture and creators from an early age. She is the author-illustrator of the celebrated books Alfombras de Aserrín(Sawdust Carpets) and La tienda de Mamá y Papá (Mama and Papa Have a Store) — winner of the Américas Award and the Pura Belpré Award for Illustration— and the illustrator of numerous other books. Though she now lives in the United States, she returns to Guatemala frequently.

Amelia Lau Carling's profile page

Elena Iribarren's profile page

• Commended, Tejas Star Reading List

This is a story that reflects the experiences of children across the world growing up speaking a number of different languages, and the authors create a little character with whom readers can relate.

CM Magazine

Food for thought for monolingual mouselings—not to mention their parents and teachers.

Kirkus Reviews

Mora and Martinez tell the story with charm and ease; Carling’s illustrations are bright and appealing, with just enough detail to captivate young audiences. The story makes bilingualism equally appealing, offering the message of language education with subtlety and humor.

Bookbird

Carling’s mixed-media paintings create a cozy Latin American environment for Chico’s family.

Publishers Weekly

This story is a celebration of diversity that invites audience participation and has great potential as a readers’ theater piece for the younger set. Recommended.

Library Media Connections

Based on a Mexican American folktale, this entertaining cat-and-mouse story features Little Chico . . . who saves the day by using his 'bilingual' talent.

Booklist