Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina

The Juana and Lucas chapter-book series offers entertaining glimpses into the daily life of an exuberant Colombian 8-year-old.

Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina. Candlewick, 2016, 89 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10

Recommended for: ages 5-7 as a read-aloud, 7-10 for independent readers.

For most Norte Americanos, knowledge of South America is surprisingly slim. We know more about China or Africa, and they’re on the other side of the world! (How many South American countries can you even name?) In a deliberate attempt to find children’s books about the region, I happened upon this series by a Colombian native who now pursues a successful career as illustrator and teacher in The States. She shares her happy childhood in Bogatá with experiences American kids can relate to even while enjoying the differences.

“Juana” introduces herself and her friends with exclamatory exuberance. “I love Bogotá. LOVE. IT,” the same way she LOVES her dog Lucas and her best friend Juli. But there are things she doesn’t love: “I strongly dislike my uniform. VERY. STRONGLY.” Her school uniform, that is: it’s hot and itchy and not conducive to playing fútbol during recess. This school year, another challenge: she’ll start learning “the English,” a difficult, quirky language she sees no use for. Her elderly neighbor Mr. Sheldon assures her that “Learning English is imperative in helping our nation develop in a global economy,” but that means nothing to her. Only when her abuelos propose a trip to Florida does Juana’s English take wing.

Juana and Lucas won the Pura Belpre award in 2017 for excellence in Hispanic literature for kids. It’s the first book in a series and, like all series, we can’t vouch for every volume. Though short with large type, it’s not the standard chapter book, as some of the vocabulary will be challenging (especially the Spanish, most of which can be deduced from its similarity to English). It’s a fun read-aloud that will introduce your kids to another kid very like them, in a place somewhat like theirs.

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 4)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: See our roundup of Latin American picture books, as well as New Shoes, a charming graphic novel for young readers that takes place in the rain forest.
• Review: South American folklore figures in Donna Jo Napoli’s Treasury of Magical Tales from around the World.
• Resource: Eat, Pray, and Read—food facts from around the world.

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