Numero Uno
Targeting the futility of one-upmanship, this original folktale is the first collaboration between Arthur Dorros, author of Abuela (1991) and others, and his son Alex. The main characters are brawny Hercules and brainy Socrates, who argue over which man contributes most to their Mexican village. Their dispute reaches a fever pitch as they both participate in the building of a bridge. Socrates thinks his architectural plans make him "¡número uno!" while Hercules believes that his lugging of tools and materials is the key. A young boy suggests a competition of sorts, sending the rivals away so the villagers can decide who is more greatly missed; upon their return, the wise boy prompts both men to see the absurdity of their squabbling. The text's short bursts of dialogue, all in Spanish and readily understood through context, will make this fun to read aloud. The same dialogue also appears in the pictures, where it works less well (the words prove difficult to see), but Guevara's bright, folk-art–style paintings are otherwise excellent, vividly expressing the humor of the stubborn rivals' antics. Nolan, AbbyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved