El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!: A Picture Book by Barba Higuera, Donna

In El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!, a boy and his monster confront their mutual fears in this unlikely friendship story that's rooted in Mexican folklore from Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award-winning author Donna Barba Higuera and illustrator Juliana Perdomo.

Ramón is a little boy who can't sleep. He is nervous for his first day at a new school.
And El Cucuy is the monster who lives in Ramón's cactus pot. He can't sleep, either.

It turns out that El Cucuy is scared, too!

This gentle, perceptive story explores the worries that can accompany moving to a new place and beginning a new journey--and reveals how comfort, bravery, and strength can be found through even the most unexpected of friendships.

"Higuera fluidly intersperses Spanish words throughout the text, and their meanings can be inferred from context. . . . These additions grant a depth to Ramón's backstory and show his individuality while highlighting the differences he may encounter in his unfamiliar environment. Perdomo's digital illustrations in vibrant hues pay homage to Ramón's heritage." --The Horn Book Magazine

Also available:
It's Navidad, El Cucuy!


Author: Donna Barba Higuera
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Published: 07/13/2021
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 10.70h x 8.90w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781419744457
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.3
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 519109 / Cucuy Is Scared, Too!


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2021
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2021 pg. 83
Publishers Weekly 06/28/2021
School Library Journal 09/03/2021 pg. 1
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2021 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
Donna Barba Higuera grew up dodging dust devils in the oilfields of central California. She was a daydreamer, constantly blending life experiences and folklore into stories. Now she weaves them into picture books and novels. Higuera currently lives among the spiraling mists of the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four children, three dogs, two frogs, and hundreds of wild birds who flock to her backyard birdfeeders every day. El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! is her debut picture book. She is also the author of the middle-grade novel Lupe Wong Won't Dance.

Juliana Perdomo is a Colombian illustrator and writer with a background as a psychologist and art therapist. Her work is joyful and heartfelt, folkish, and a bit retro, with a Latin touch. She has participated in different projects as an illustrator, El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! being her debut in the United States. Perdomo lives in Bogotá, Colombia, with her amazing son, Luca, and a crazy old dog named Menta.