Bravo, Tavo!
In a small Mexican village, Tavo dreams of being a basketball star like the American players he sees on TV. He feels handicapped by his duct-taped sneakers; however, with the whole summer to practice, he isn't discouraged. But then his father needs him to help clear irrigation ditches to bring water to their parched crops, so Tavo must forgo his basketball plans. After several weeks, the hard labor pays off, and the crops are saved. However, Tavo is now without sneakers, and he is unable to practice with the other kids. While Tavo is getting the people in the village to acknowledge that his father's idea could solve their water problems, his sneakers are beautifully repaired by an old woman some call a witch, enabling him to make the winning basket in the big game. The story is unusual, bringing issues like wealth and poverty to younger children; the universal theme of overcoming adversity will have great appeal, as will the strong father-son relationship. Sweeping earth-toned artwork, brightened with greens and blues, ably conveys how things both big and small matter. Enos, RandallCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved